
^^r 







Class __2)X_ilA0 

Book._ , 3 J 

Copyright If 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSnV 



<b^ 



THE ORGANIZED 



ADULT BIBL E CLASS 






By J. H. BRYAN 




CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 



■K^ 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 

Two Co Dies Received 

MAR 15 1809 

w Gopyrieni Entry 
5<4r. 1^,1^6^ 
CLASS CL~ XXc, Mo, 

COP> 3. 



Copyright, 1909, by 

Christian Publishing Company, 

St. Iyouis, Mo. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 5 

Preface 7 

I— The Adult 9 

II— The Bible 23 

III— The Class 33 

IV — Class Organization : Officers . : 55 

V — Class Organization : Committees 69 

VI— The Glorious Results 105 

VII — The Wondrous Opportunities 119 

VIII — The Tremendous Responsibilities 129 

Appendix A — International Leaflets 141 

Appendix B— Printed Matter 163 



—3- 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Adult Bible Class movement is probably the most signifi- 
cant indication of our modern revival of the Bible School. We 
have suddenly discovered that it is possible to secure the attend- 
ance of grown-up people. We are now endeavoring to solve the 
problem of how to hold them. This means that they shall be so 
interested, not only in Bible study, but in Christian work, that 
they will feel it to be worth their while to come regularly to Sun- 
day-school. 

The great International Sun Jay-School Association is giving 
great and proper attention to this marvelous movement. With its 
encouragement our Bible Schools everywhere are reaching out aft- 
er the grown-up people. Every school should desire to know the 
best methods of holding them. This book, by J. H. Bryan, is writ- 
ten to help such earnest people. 

The author is a man of large experience in the Bible School 
work, having given the best years of his life to its fascinating 
problems. He has proven himself successful in a very marked de- 
gree, and now, in the later years, he has turned his attention es- 
pecially to the Adult Bible Class movement, and ia proving himself 
a master in promoting this work in the State of Missouri. His 
book is, consequently, not one of theory, but of practice. He tails 
us what has been done. The helpful feature of the book is that 
the successes he records have been won in the average school. 
This invites any one interested in the Adult Bible Class to take 
hold of his suggestions with confidence that they can be worked 
out to a successful completion under ordinary conditions. 

It is an encouraging sign when men of such experience write 
for the people who are mastering these problems. 

Marion Stevenson, 
National Bible School Superintendent. 

St. Louis, Mo., February 9, 1909. 



-5-- 



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PREFACE 

The increasing interest in the Organized Adult Bible Class 
movement, the wonderful results being achieved, the still 
greater opportunities open, and the demand for fuller infor- 
mation which will lead to a better understanding of the un- 
derlying principles, the successful methods which have led 
to these great achievements and which will direct and inspire 
to the successful organization and conduct of such classes, is 
the justification for writing this — another book. 

In preparation of himself for his work of Superintendent of 
the Adult Bible Class Department of the Missouri Christian 
Bible School Association, the author has " gone over many 
books' ' and periodicals, attended conferences and conventions, 
visited classes and had his own personal experience as teacher 
and pastor. The knowledge thus gained he has written into 
a book, in the hope that what has proved so useful and help- 
ful to him may be of equal value to others. 

Kansas City, Mo., Sept., 1908. J. H. BKYAJNT. 



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I.— THE ADULT. 



The Ever-Recurring Question. 

Why Reach Adults? 

Why Is the Adult Not Reached? 

How To Reach the Adult. 

What To Do with the Adult. 



—9— 



L— THE ADULT. 

THE EVER-RECURRING QUESTION. 

In Institute, Convention, and Question Box, wherever Sun- 
day-school people have gathered for a half century or more, 
the ever-recurring question is, "How can we reach the grown- 
ups? ". How can we hold the young men and young women? 
During »that time thousands of experiments have been tried, 
and many thousands of replies have been given. Many move- 
ments have been inaugurated, some to die an early death, oth- 
ers to drag along, half alive and half dead, and others to 
nourish and prosper, spreading their blessings far and wide. 
Publishers have lent their aid, Sunday-school Association offi- 
cers have worked on the problem, and gathered together the 
best thought of the foremost workers, and given them to the 
world, and finally the International Association has appointed 
a special secretary of the* Adult Bible Class Department, in 
the person of Mr. W. C. Pearce, to devote his time to the pro- 
motion of the work, and give, to the workers the results of all 
this tremendous amount of effort. 

That so many men and women are working on the problem, 
that so much has been accomplished, that such glorious results 
have been achieved, such wonderful opportunities opened, such 
tremendous responsibilities imposed, are among the many rea- 
sons why you and I should be awake to the study of the 
subject and active in the practical solution of the problem. 

WHY REACH ADULTS? 

But why should the Sunday-school people care to reach the 
Adult? Why not continue to regard 'the Sunday-school as Mthe 

—11— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

nursery of the Church/ ' and the work a "work for the boys 
and the girls," and the session as one "for the children' ; ? 

We have the preaching service for the Adults, why desire 
more? That there is such a desire, and such a demand, is evi 
denced by the ever-recurring question. 

Among the reasons for reaching the Adult are the following: 

1. For the Sake of the Child. 

The child 's estimate of the importance of the Sunday-school 
is based largely upon the attitude of the grown-ups toward the 
school. If it is not of sufficient value to induce the parent to 
"go into the Lord's house on the Lord's day to study the 
Lord's word/' the child argues that it is of sufficient impor- 
tance to hold him* only while he is a child, and looks forward 
to the time when he shall become a man and "put away child- 
ish things.' 9 

Every grown-up out of the Sunday-school is a power pull- 
ing every near grown-up out of the school, while every grown- 
up in the Sunday-school is a power holding every other mem- 
ber in, and pulling on the outsiders. 

It has been well said that the way to keep the boys and 
girls in the school is to build a wall of grown-ups around them 
so they can't get out. 

The need for doing something to hold the boys and girls is 
shown by the fact that recent investigations have brought to 
light, viz.: that three-fourths of the pupils twelve years of 
age, who are enrolled in the Sunday-schools, drop out of the 
schools before they reach the age of twenty. This is true 
of practically all schools which do not reach the Adults. 

The boy or girl will do good work in the Sunday-school in 
proportion to their appreciation of the school, and they will 

—12— 



The Organized Aduit Bible Class. 

account it worth while in proportion to the number of Adults 
they find in attendance. 

The home study of the boys and girls will, in most cases, 
be increased in proportion to the attendance of the Adults. 
When the Adult does not attend, as a rule he is careless about 
the preparation of bis child. When he himself attends and 
previously prepares his lesson, he is apt to see to it that his 
boy or girl does the same. Then, it is hard to convince 
the average boy that he should become a Christian, that he 
should become a disciple of the Great Teacher for life, when 
his father, a nominal Christian, is a persistent truant from 
the school where the words of this Teacher are studied. 

Every reason for maintaining a Sunday-school for boys 
and girls is a reason why the Adult should attend — for tne 
sake of the boys and girls. 

2. For the Sake of the Adult. 

The average adult, however well he may have known his 
Bible when a boy, will find that he needs to review to keep 
its teachings fresh in his mind and heart. 

In a recent graduating exercise of a class from the Law 
Department of a Christian University, the orator of the occa- 
sion gave an address, in which he contended, first, that the 
lawyer was "blessed, ff because he was a peacemaker; and 
second, that he should have a peacemaker's reward. Then, 
instead of quoting the last of this Beatitude which is, "for 
they shall be called the children of God, " he quoted from 
the Beatitude about the meek, the clause of which is — "for 
ihey shall inherit the earth." He not only so quoted, but pro- 
ceeded to found one-third of his address upon this misplaced 
quotation. 

—13— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

A decade ago, a governor of one of the Mississippi Valley 
States issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation made up almost 
entirely of quotations from the Psalms. As he failed to put 
in the quotation marks, the editor of the opposition paper ac- 
cused him of plagiarism, declaring that While he could not 
give the author, he knew he had seen in print much of the 
governor's message. The editor of the paper representing the 
governor's party on the other hand, declared that the message 
was entirely original with the governor. 

Two representatives to Congress from Illinois were dis- 
cussing on the train the eloquence of a colleague. One won- 
dered what was the source of his flow of words and beauti- 
ful figures of speech. The other explained that the orator at- 
tributed it to the study of the Bible. The first man expressed 
the opinion that the other man would not have much of a 
vocabulary if he had to depend upon his knowledge of the 
Bible for it; to which the retort was made that he was as 
well informed as the other. Out of the discussion grew a bet 
that Congressman No. 2 could not repeat the Lord's Prayer, 
and when he had said his child's prayer, beginning: "Now I 
lay me down to sleep," Congressman No. 1 handed over the 
money with the remark, "I did not think you could do it." 

These men had all been in Sunday-school as boys, but were 
rusty in their Bible knowledge, because as Adults they were 
not students of the word. 

If there is such ignorance among judges, editors and con- 
gressmen, — men who are supposed to be informed as to mat- 
ters of literature, — what must be the condition of the mind 
and heart of the average business man, farmer, artisan, who 
makes no such pretense? 

It is equally important that the Adult should be in the 
Bible school for the sake of his own growth and development. 

—14— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

When Jesus had his memorable conversation with Peter 
at the seaside in Galilee, after his resurrection, once he told 
him to feed his lambs, but twice he told him to feed his sheep. 
As a rule, a sheep must, to be healthful and strong, eat more 
than a lamb. But most sheep in the Lord's fold try to get 
along with much less. It is not therefore strange that in the 
flock there are so many who are weak and scrawny and sick 
— half -starved for lack of food. 

It is all very well to see that the babes are given the ' ' sin- 
cere milk of the word," but that is no excuse for allowing 
the men to commit spiritual suicide by slow degrees, by 
starving themselves for the "strong meat." 

The efficiency of the "strong meat" in making "strong 
men" is strikingly stated in an address made by Mr. W. S. 
Witham, president of the State Sunday School Association of 
Georgia, in which is found this extraordinary statement: 

"I do not know a single great man in my home state of 
Georgia who is not a Sunday-school worker." He then pro- 
ceeded to enumerate the names of men well known in national, 
state, and city legislation and governmental positions, prominent 
journalists, lawyers, bankers, merchants, etc., and told of their 
connection with the Sunday-school work. They all are (or had 
been until the removal to Washington or the state capital com- 
pelled them to give up the position) superintendents of large 
Sunday-schools or teachers of successful classes, or held other 
offices in the school. He bore glowing testimony to their love 
for the Sunday-school, and efficiency in its service, and added: 

"In the past some small minds have thought it a sign of 
littleness and feebleness to be interested in the workings of a 
Sunday-school. I tell you it is a most distinguished sign of 
greatness. If you want to find the really great and successful 

—15— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

men of to-day, there is no better place to look than in the 
Sunday-school. ' ' 

3. For the Sake of the Other Adults. 

No man can be the husband he has vowed to be, unless in 
his marital relations he is guided by the word of God. No 
woman can bring to the husband and into the home what she 
should bring, unless she learns day by day of the Book of 
Books, what and how her wifely duties and opportunities and 
privileges are. 

No man can perform his part as a citizen of a town or 
state or nation, as a producer or distributor, as master or 
servant, as neighbor or friend, unless he refers again and 
again to his Guide Book. Neither can he know himself, nor 
his neighbor, nor his God. ■ 

The grown-up is scarcely less susceptible to influence by 
the example of others than the child. This is not to be won- 
dered at, since 

"The man is but the boy grown tall, — 
Hearts don't change much, after all." 

Therefore the Adult should be in the school to induce, by his 
example, other Adults to come under the instruction of the 
Great Teacher. Not the least of the opportunities which this 
position offers is that of "winning souls to the Christ, of 
building them up in Christ, and enlisting them in service for 
Christ.' ' In no other position are such opportunities offered. 

4. For the Sake of the School. 

The school needs the Adults. It needs their presence and 
their sympathy and their help. It needs them for officers and 

—16— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

teachers and workers. Even in the largest churches this is so. 
In one church of over 1,000 members fifty boys were lost from 
the Sunday-school because of lack of teachers and workers. 
The schools need the money of the Adults. Too long has this 
work been on the penny basis. To be properly equipped with 
adequate buildings and supplies, the adult pocket-book must 
furnish its dollars, where now the children bring their coppers. 
And to carry on a work for men and women will require the 
earnings of m/en and women. 

5. For the Sake of the Church. . 

Already eighty-five per cent of the new members of the 
church come from the Sunday-school. And this in spite of 
the fact that the majority of the scholars get out of the school 
before conversion, and in spite of the woeful lack of parental 
co-operation and adult activity. What might not be* done if 
the Adults were there and at work, and how the conquest 
of the world would be hastened if Christ's nominal disciples 
were disciples indeed! 

In tho edification of the church, as well as recruiting for 
its membership the church needs the Adult in the school. The 
best members of the church — the best prepared for church 
membership, the best trained for effective service, the most 
faithful and spiritual — are to be found in the ranks of the 
Sunday-school; and if the Adult is to continue to be faithful 
and effective, he will most surely do so by remaining active 
in the school. 

WHY IS THE ADULT NOT REACHED? 

The excuses the Adult usually gives for not being in the 
Sunday-school — too busy, too tired, other engagements, com- 
(2) -17- 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

pany, etc., — are not the reasons. Among the reasons why he 
is not there are, • 

1. He Has Been Invited To Stay Away. 
For a hundred years the Sunday-school workers have been 
telling the Adult that he is not expected in the school. The 
preacher will announce the school session, and urge his con- 
gregation to see to it that all the boys and girls attend. The 
superintendent will say, "Now, childrenl" The prayer in the 
convention will contain the petition, "Lord, bless us now in 
this great work of teaching thy word to the young." All the 
programs contain a paper or address on "The study of Child 
Nature. ' ' We have said that the school is the ' ' nursery of 
the church," we have planned the opening and closing ex- 
ercises for the children, have sung children's songs, and in 
practically every indirect way conceivable have told the grown- 
ups that they were not expected there. True, we have in- 
sisted upon their coming, but always they have felt that in 
doing so, they were condescending to come into the nursery, 
rather than into a school adapted to and arranged for strong 
men and women. 

2., He Has Not Been Invited There. 

Even where we have put away the phrases and forms of 
expressions which tell the Adult to stay away, and where wo 
have arranged a school program to suit the Adult, we yet have 
not invited him to come to Sunday-school. Oh, of course, we have 
made announcement* from the pulpit, and have met our friend, 
and said that we would be glad to have him come to Sunday- 
school next Sunday. But we have not gone after the man like 
we have gone after the boy. We have not gone after him to get 
him to Sunday-school like the politician has gone after him 

—18— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

to get him to vote for his candidate. We have been like the 
man who invited his friend to come around and take dinnor 
with' him sometime; and it was some time before he went. We 
need to be like the man who told his friend that he would 
prepare a special dinner for him the next Tuesday, and he 
wanted him to be sure and be there. And he was there. 

The big boy will go where he is invited and expected, just 
as the small boy will — and the Sunday-school is no exception. 

3. The Work Given Him Has Been Child's Play Rather Than 
Men's Work. 

To sing a few songs, to listen to a talk adapted to chil- 
dren, to hear the moralizings of even the best men as they take 
up the lesson verse by verse has not been considered by the 
Adult as ''man's work. " Even to be lectured to by a brilliant 
and well-informed man has not had enough in it to demand 
the Adult's hearty approval. The class which has commanded 
the attention of the men of a community is where the tasks 
set, in study, in reaching men for good, in opposing evil and 
in soul-saving, have been hard tasks — have been properly 
counted as. a man's work. 

It was a man's work to undertake to bring into a Sunday- 
school every man, woman and child in a town of 361, and it 
enlisted the minds and money and time of strong men. 

It was a man's work to canvass a whole city of 100,000 
house by house, and give every man, woman and child in it 
an invitation to Sunday-school, and follow up the canvass 
with systematic personal work to bring them into the mem- 
bership of the school. And men gave all their spare time for 
months and gladly gave $10, $25, $50 and $100 each to see that 
it was a success. 

—19— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

It was a man's work to reach the men of a church, and 
build up a men's class from 10 to 1,000, and where it has 
been undertaken men have rallied to the work. 

It is men's work to bring men into the light of the gospel, 
and bring them to definite decisions to accept Christ as Sav- 
iour, and to enlist them in his service, and where this work 
has been a part of the Sunday-school's aims and work, the 
men have worked, and the men have been won. They have 
not only come to Sunday-school, but they have stayed there. 

HOW TO REACH THE ADULT. 

The removal of the things which have kept him away will 
be a long step in the direction of getting him there. 

1. Teach Him That He Should Be There. 

A prominent business man, strong and influential in many 
fields of activity, had not been in Sunday-school since boy- 
hood days. A single sermon on the great commission, show- 
ing that Jesus sent his apostles out to make disciples — learn- 
ers, pupils, students, — and that these disciples were to be 
taught, and that- it was as much a lack of loyalty on the part 
of the disciple to; fail to be taught, as to fail to be baptized, 
brought that man into the school, where soon he became teach- 
er, and afterwards the teacher of the teachers. 

If as many sermons had been preached to the church on 
Bible Study as have been preached on Baptism, or Predesti- 
nation, or Election, or the Holy Spirit, or Sanctification, there 
would be no question in the conventions about how to reach 
the Adults. 

2. Go After Them. 

And all that is to be said in the rest of this paper is but 
a commentary on that heading. The Class and its organization, 

—20— 



TJie Organized Adult Bible Class. 

its officers and committees, are all but methods of carrying into 
effect this motto — "Go after them. " To these we refer the 
reader. 

WHAT TO DO WITH THE ADULT. 

The purposes of the Sunday-school in reaching the Child 
are the same we have in reaching the Adult. We bring them 
both into the school to teach them the truth; to so teach it, 
that it will win them to Christ; to build them up in Christ, — 
to form in them the character of Christ and transform them 
into the image of Christ; and lastly, to enlist and train them 
in active and effective work for Christ. 

When we remember that Moses taught the men and women 
of his time, and commanded the men to' be teachers; when we 
remember that Ezra's Bible school was made up of men and 
women; when we remember that Jesus conducted a men's 
class for three and a half years, and sent them out to teach 
and train others; when we know that the greatest schools 
in America are the schools in which are to be found the 
Organized Adult Bible classes; that the greatest classes are 
Organized classes, and that the Church's chief evangelistic 
agency is these same Organized Adult classes, we will be readv 
to push forward every movement looking to the enlistment of 
the Adult, and of using him in the work of the Sunday-school. 



—21— 



£S**S*XSX%SSX%SS^^ 



II.— THE BIBLE. 



Protestantism and the Bible. 

Bible and Prosperity. 

Bible and Conversion. 
Bible and Character-Building. 
Bible and Christian Service. 

Bible and Substitutes. 
The Open Bible. 



—23— 



II.— THE BIBLE, 



PROTESTANTISM AND THE BIBLE. 

"The Bible is the Religion of Protestantism*, ' ' has been 
the proud boast of many leaders for many years. The cynical 
remark of the pessimist is that, "If the amount of the religion 
possessed by Protestants is to be measured by the amount of 
Bible they know, then the Protestants are in sad need of more 
religion. " And the most enthusiastic optimist must admit 
the need of an increase of Bible knowledge. 

BIBLE AND PROSPERITY. 

However this may be, it is to be observed that just as the 
individual, the congregation, the community or the nation in- 
creases in Bible knowledge, in the same proportion do the 
glorious fruits of Christianity and Christian civilization fol- 
low. Go around the world, and as the Bible is found to be a 
closed book, in the same proportion is there to be found the 
darkness of ignorance and superstition, the degradation of 
body and spirit, and the deepest depths of poverty: poverty 
in material things — in home and marketplace, field and fac- 
tory, houses and lands, arts and architecture; poverty in in- 
tellectual life and achievements — in invention, in the arts and 
sciences, in literature — sermon and song and story, in govern- 
ment and business and education; poverty in spiritual life — 
in glorious hopes and noble ambitions and high ideals, in 
joy and love and all spiritual graces. 

Go around the world, and as you open the Bible, in the 
same proportion do you find that the world is made rich — rich 

—25— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class.- 

in dollars and cents, and all that money can buy — higher 
wages, better homes, greater commerce, schools, railroads, news- 
papers, books, churches and all that these things mean in 
the enrichment of human life — in bodily health and comfort, 
in intellectual growth and activity and achievement, in spir- 
itual development and culture. The nations are rich as they 
are Bible studying nations. The promises of both the Old and 
New Testament are "sure and steadfast," and are fulfilled. 
In "storehouse and in basket" are the blessings found to be 
the greatest in the greatest Bible school nation of the world, 
and it is demonstrated that the Christ came to "make men 
rich." 

To continue this prosperity and to "abolish poverty" to 
the fullest extent possible, requires the further extension of 
Bible knowledge and the fuller observance of Bible truth. 

BIBLE AND CONVERSION. 

"While all are interested in the betterment of the. world as 
a whole and of the community in which they live in particu- 
lar, those who have come into the Church of the Christ and 
have caught the Christ spirit; which includes the evangeliza- 
tion of the world, have a special interest in the Bible as God's 
instrument in the hands of men for the conversion of the world. 

History tells us that when the Church has been a Bible study- 
ing and Bible teaching church it has ever been successful in its 
evangelization of the world; and that conversely, when it has 
ceased to teach, it has ceased to reach the world. During 
the apostolic age, in which, against the combined opposition 
of established religion, venerated philosophy, popular cus- 
toms, and the power of the sword, the church conquered the 
Roman world in three centuries, changing pagan temples into 
Christian churches, transforming the government from perse- 

—26— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

cutor to propagator, and raising itself from a position of ob- 
scurity and persecution to that of the state church, honored 
and enthroned in power, the Church won its victories through 
teaching Bible truth. 

When the Church, as a state church, relied upon its posi- 
tion and prestige for its influences, and ceased to be the great 
teaching institution of the early ages, it was powerless to pre- 
vent the peoples it called its own from degenerating into the 
ignorance and superstition and degradation of the Dark Ages. 
When again, through university and pulpit and school, the 
Church renewed her teaching of the Bible, there came the 
Reformation. During the eighteenth century the forces of in- 
fidelity were met and put to flight by the open Bible, and dur- 
ing the nineteenth century — the century of greatest activity 
in Bible teaching. — the greatest progress in the extension in 
membership, in the elevation and purification in life, and in the 
increase in Christian service has taken place since the Great 
Teacher appeared. In this opening of the twentieth century, it 
is all but universally recognized that the triumph of the Churcn 
is to come with the teaching of the Bible. 

This conforms to Bible teaching. If indeed "the gospel 
is the power of God unto salvation/ ' if "the seed is the word," 
if "the sword of the spirit is the word of God/' if Jesus was 
right when he commissioned his disciples to "go teach," 
then it is only by the preaching of this gospel, the sowing of 
this seed, the teaching of this truth, the wielding of this sword, 
that the harvests are to appear, that the victories are to be 
won, that souls are to be saved. 

The statistics show eighty-five out of one hundred of the 
converts in America coming directly from the teaching of the 
Church. 

• —27— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

A great leader in evangelism, a preacher of prominence, 
an evangelist of power, and a man at the head of the evangel- 
istic forces of one of the most successful evangelistic churches 
of America, summed up the situation by saying, that ' ' The 
chief evangelistic agency of the Church is the Sunday-school; 
not the pulpit, not the evangelist, not the' great revival, but 
the school in which the Bible is taught." 

Marshall A. Hudson, President of world-wide Baraca, and 
teacher of the original Baraca class in Syracuse, N. Y., from 
which within a decade 350 men came to Christ, testifies that 
the secret of their success in soul-winning is to be found in 
the fact that they have been able to induce their members 
to "seach the Scriptures. ' ' All other work is a failure with- 
out the word of the Lord in the heart of the man. 

BIBLE AHD CHARACTER-BUILDING. 

Many are the men who denounce in round terms modern 
evangelism, because so many of the ' ' converts ' f fail to i ' hold 
out faithful, " and st) many fall short in" the building up of 
Christian character. 

While the "normal evangelism" is in accordance with Bible 
school methods, the work of the "professional evangelist" is 
not to be despised. Many of the converts in Acts of Apos- 
ties were brought to acknowledge and obey Christ under cir- 
cumstances the most extraordinary and exciting. Afterwards, 
the building of Christian character was conducted in the nor- 
mal manner — the "continuing in the apostles ' teaching." In 
too many cases this is wholly ignored and neglected in the 
churches of to-day. By our traditions we have made of none 
effect the word of God. We have been teaching the boys and 
girls, the children, while the commission has all the time 
been demanding that the baptized disciple shall be taught, 

—28— •' 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

Because we have not been teaching hinii, he has too often 
dropped clear away from the church, and back into his old 
sinful ways, or has failed completely to add to his faith the 
Christian gTaces, or develop a Christian character. 

We have the testimony of Marion Lawrance, General Secre- 
tary of the International Sunday-School Association, to the 
fact that the only power which will successfully hold men to 
the Church and the School is the Bible; and the' unanimous 
verdict is that the basis of Christian character is a full knowl- 
edge of the Christ, which knowiege is only to be gained by 
Bible study. 

BIBLE AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE. 

From the days of Abraham the Bible teaching has been 
that we are "saved to serve. " Christ came not to be min- 
istered unto, but to minister. The greatest is the servant of 
all. Even in heaven Jesus is preparing a place for us. It is 
in the Bible where service is exalted and Christ "going about 
doing good" is presented as our model. 

It is also in the Bible that we find our instruction, as well 
as our inspiration. The scriptures are profitable, that the man 
of God may be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 
Acts of Apostles is the best "Manual on Missions." It is 
the true "Evangelist's Hand Book." The Master 's methods, 
as set forth in the New Testament, are the best to be found in 
any book on Bible school work. Teacher training finds its 
basis and its best methods in the "training of the Twelve." 
House to house visitation finds its justification in the sending 
out of "the seventy" and "the Twelve," two and two. "Per- 
sonal work" finds its brightest examples in the conversation 
with the woman at the well of Samaria, and with Cornelius, 
and the work of Andrew and Philip, and the conversion of the 

—29— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

Ethiopian Eunuch. Church organization, and church services, 
and church discipline, Christian fellowship and the grace of 
giving, Christian ' ' Socialism ' ' and the true Christian science 
are to be found in the Bible. The true relation of master and 
servant, citizen and state, ruler and people, husband and wife, 
parent and child, enemy and friend, Christian and pagan, saint 
and • sinner, and the service Christ would have his followers 
to render in each case are to be found only in this book. It 
is the soldier's Manual of Arms, the traveler's Guide Book, 
the Great Architect's " Plans and Specifications" for the build- 
ing of human life, the "Captain's Orders," the Master's "In- 
structions," the Friend's Advice, the Eevelation of our God, 
the Lamp to our feet and the Light to our pathway in the 
journey of Life, and he who would live best and serve best, 
should best know the Bible. 

BIBLE AND SUBSTITUTES. 

From the days of Cain there have been those who have been 
substituting men's ways for God's ways. The idea of "just 
as good" is not modern, and the uniform failure of those who 
have followed the practice should deter those who would ex- 
periment with it now. "Men's clubs" connected with the 
Church do not and can not, in the very nature of the case, 
take the 'place of Men 's Bible classes. The most interesting 
lecture on current* events will not transform the men as the 
simple teachings of the Bible. No amount of brilliancy on 
the part of the teacher who "lectures to the class" will take 
the place of personal study of the Bible by the individual pupil. 
To hold the Class, to convert the pupil, to transform the char- 
acter, to stimulate to service, to win the world, to glorify our 
God, there is no substitute which can take the, place of the 
Word of God. The class must be a Bible class. 

—30— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

It must be admitted that in most cases, so far as the Adult 
is concerned, much of the results desired have not been found. 
That this is no fault of the Bible, is the testimony of the 
thousands who have meditated in the Law of the Lord night 
and day and "brought forth their fruit in their season." That 
the ordinary methods of the ordinary Sunday-school have 
failed to reach, and hold, and convert and build up the ordi- 
nary Adult, is only a demonstration that these methods are 
inadequate and ineffective. The uniform success in Organized 
classes is a demonstration of, first, that the Bible is the Book 
needed for the -Adult's highest development and greatest joy, 
and second, that its better methods can, and do secure results 
unattainable by the other kind. 

THE OPEN BIBLE. 

At present the Bible is, as a matter of fact, to most Adults 
"a closed book." It is as useless to them as is a closed knife 
to a boy. It is only when the knife is opened that it can cut — 
and the word of God, though "sharper than any two-edged 
sword" can not benefit and bless the human heart and life 
unless it becomes an "open book" — unless by personal study 
the adult shall make its treasures his. 

It is because of the pre-eminent success of the Organized 
Adult Bible class in changing the Bible from a closed to "an 
open Book" that it chiefly commends itself. 



—31— 



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^v^Cfc^^^^^^ 



III.— THE CLASS. 



The Class. 

International Standards. 

The Baraca Class. 

The Preacher and the Class. 

The Superintendent and the Class. 

Mottoes and Aims. 



(3) —33— 



III. -THE CLASS. 



Since the desired end is Bible Study by the Adult, the 
value of the Organized class is to be estimated by its results 
in this particular. 

It is an admitted fact that the average Adult does not 
study the Bible with any degree of regularity as to time nor 
any continuity as to matter, nor any system as to manner, 
unless he studies it in connection with some class. Of course, 
a man can study aright without the help and stimulus of the 
class; but as a matter of fact he does not. As a general prop- 
osition it is true that if the Adult does not study the Bible with 
a Bft^e class, he does not study the Bible at all. The logic of 
the situation therefore demands the class. 

This is not an arbitrary matter but finds its basis in the Y,ery 
constitution of man. " Steel sharpeneth steel," and the wit of 
the man is sharpened by coming into contact with other minds. 
The gang spirit is to be found in the grown-ups almost as strong 
as in the boys. And the man needs the stimulus which comes 
from association with his fellows, and the inspiration which 
is to be found in provoking one another to good works, as well as 
the boy. The fact that the pupils of the school should be clas- 
sified is clearly recognized in the Bible — " Sincere milk" for 
babes and "Strong meat" for men, is a recognition, too, that 
there is to be a distinct difference in the manner of treatment 
of the different classes. 

There is something in classification which appeals to men. A 

—35— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class.. 

dozen old men who were proof against all the arguments and 
entreaties used to induce them to join a Bible school, yielded 
readily and worked hard for a ■ ' Grandfathers' class. " The man 
who can not be reached for the Bible Class joins with enthu- 
siasm a Business Men's Class. Young men who conducted a 
dance hall in the winter, gave that up, and j Dined the young 
men's Organized class, when they understood that the class 
was to be organized and controlled by themselves, and to con- 
tain only young men. Nearly every mixed class of young peo- 
ple which divides into two classes, one for men and one for 
women, doubles in attendance within sixty days. No man is 
quite satisfied with conditions when he finds himself "out of 
his class." 

But a class is something more than a company of people who 
are in many respects alike and who have common interests. A 
mob is not a class any more than a pile of scrap iron is a steam 
engine. There must be some sort of organization, and some 
sort of leadership which is to bind together the members and 
direct their activities. 

Among Adults this organization must be democratic, and 
the leadership, to be most acceptable, must be chosen by the 
members of the class, and the rules that govern it must be 
self-imposed. The leadership of a boy may safely be in- 
trusted in the hands of a competent teacher; and he will gladly 
be governed if he loves and believes in his teacher. But the 
Adult insists in at least believing that he is having a hand 
in the government of his class. 

In the ordinary class, where the leadership and manage- 
ment and work is all done by one man, where that one man 
fails, the whole class fails. On the other hand, in the Organ- 
ized class, because there are many to be responsible and many 
to work, the success of the class is not dependent upon any 

—36— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

one man, and the class may do good work in spite of the in- 
activity of the teacher or the president, or any other one per- 
son. The combined efforts of the many workers, wisely di- 
rected, insure success for the Organized class where the other 
kind fails. 

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. 
The International Standards have been raised, after the 
fullest consideration of the plans and purposes of the various 
Brotherhoods and Organized classes, and the committee en- 
deavors to embody the best from, them all. 

The report of the Secretary, Mr. Pearce, says: 
"All classes consulted accredited their success largely to 
a definite division of class responsibility and work, and the in- 
troduction of particular kinds of activities. It was therefore 
determined that the standard should require the election of 
at least five officers: Teacher, President, Vice-President, Sec- 
retary, and Treasurer, and the election of at least three com- 
mittees, the first to have charge of the activities relating to 
the membership of the class, the second of those relating to 
the social life for the class, and the third of those relating 
to the development of the spiritual life in the class. These 
committees are usually called Membership, Social, and Devo- 
tional, but the standard does not require that the committees 
shall be called by these three names, but that three committees 
shall be appointed to care for these three kinds of class activi- 
ties. This guarantees an even development of the life of the 
class. In addition to these requirements in organization it 
was decided that the class should be definitely connected with 
some Sunday-school and should be composed of members six- 
teen years of age and over. 

The International Certificate. 
"This Certificate of Recognition was prepared for issuance 
—37— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

to Adult Bible classes attaining the International Standard of 
Organization. It is fifteen by fifteen inches, beautifully litho- 
graphed in three colors, red, gold and black, and provides 
space for the signature of charter members, and is suitable for 
framing for the class room. The use of this certificate has. 
aided the work in the following ways: it 1 has stimulated a 
thorough organization; assisted in establishing a working plan 
of organization; served to increase the fellowship between 
the various classes and between these classes and the State 
and Provincial Associations, and helped to secure a list of 
tiie names and addresses of class officers, which is valuable 
to Associations sending out notices of Conventions, Confer- 
ences, and other helpful material. 

International Emblem. 

"Upon the recommendation of the Adult Department Com- 
mittee an emblem was adopted by the International Executive 
Committee at its annual meeting in 1906. This is a small 
red button with a round white center. Its significance is: 
1 There is no purity of life without sacrifice, and no cleansing 
from sin' without the shedding of blood. ' (Hebrews 9:22.) 
It may be worn by the members of any class without con- 
flicting with their own class pin. It is rapidly becoming a 
continent-wide bond of fellowship in addition to the good it 
is doing by way of helping to advertise and introduce the Or- 
ganized Adult Bible class work. 

"The advantages of Bible Class pins are many. They en- 
courage friendly relationship between all Bible classes. They 
serve as an introduction to strangers who may be members of 
other Adult Bible classes. Especially is this appreciated when 
members are away from home. When others wearing such a 

—33— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

pin visit your town, you see the pin and invite the wearer to 
your class.' ' 

THE EAEACA CiLASS. 

One of the most successful of the many forms of Organ- 
ized Adult Bible classes is the Baraca Class. From the first 
class formed in Syracuse, N. Y., it has grown to a great inter- 
national organization, with over 2,000 classes in the United 
States, and over 300,000 members. The fact that in the town 
of its birth there are to be found 59 Baraca classes, and 45 
Philathea classes — the latter being the corresponding classes 
for young women, shows that where it is best known it is most 
appreciated. In the original class, there have been 350 men 
converted, and the growth last year showed 100,000 men and 
50,000 women added to the ranks. The Philatheas have a total 
membership of 150,000. During the year ending in June, 1907, 
there were 7,500 young men converted in these classes during 
the year. 

The name of the Class is derived by a slight modification 
from a Hebrew word "Barachah, " which means "happy" 
or "blessed." The national platform is, "Young men at work 
for young men, all standing by the Bible and the Bible school," 
and the national motto is, "We do things." The Baraca idea 
is to keep every man in the class busy doing something for 
somebody else. 

The account. of one of the class meetings, as given by Mr. 
Marshall A. Hudson, the originator of the movement, and 
President of the World-Wide Union, will be of special interest: 

"The first work of the members was the equipment of the 
room in which they met for the lesson hour on Sunday. This 
room was fitted up like a clubroom, with good carpet, lace cur- 
tains, pictures, the motto and platform framed and hanging on 

—39— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the wall, also with rocking- and easy-chairs, Bibles, maps and 
a blackboard. This giving of the young men a separate room 
under their control led them to adopt business methods in 
conducting the Sunday-school session. Here the president pre- 
sides, and after calling to order, all arise and are led in 
prayer by the teacher, closing with the Lord's Prayer in con- 
cert. The president directs the secretary to take the attend- 
ance cards and the treasurer the offering, then thirty min- 
utes is given the teacher for the lesson. At the expiration of 
the teacher's time he is notified, and the president again 
takes charge of the meeting. He calls upon the secretary 
for the report of the day, to which he responds with the 
number of members present, number of visitors present, and 
gives the names of new members for that day. The new mem- 
bers are then requested to rise, and are given the cordial 
Baraca grip with a few words of welcome. The president then 
directs the class to rise and close with the parting text, which 
is the national platform: ' Young men at work for young men, 
all standing by the Bible and Bible school. ' A general hand- 
shake follows. This exercise is attractive to men because of 
its business methods. As the class leaves the room, the names 
and addresses of visitors are handed the teacher, who writes 
a letter to each and mails it so they will receive it in the first 
mail Monday morning. On Monday evening the visiting com- 
mittee stop at the home of each of the visitors and give them 
a cordial invitation to come next Sunday, leaving the class 
calling card. " 

The " Secret Service" of the Baraca has been greatly blessed 
in the work of soul-winning and is heartily recommended. Tt 
is composed of those members of the class who are Christians 
and who pledge to pray and work for the conversion of the 
unconverted members of the class. The following is the pledge: 

—40— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 



MY SECRET SERVICE. 

1. I pledge to pray for the unconverted members of our 
Bible class every day at noon, or as soon thereafter as I re- 

■ member this pledge. 

2. I pledge to make a list of those to whom I will speak, 
and to work and pray for them. 

3. I will meet the secret service members once a month and 
pray aloud with them, and do all in my power to help bring 

members to Christ within the next 

six months. 



Dated 



THE PREACHER AND THE CLASS. 

Three phases of the work of the Christian minister are weil 
set forth in the statement following: "(a) To cause the peo- 
ple to know the Truth of the Bible so that they (b) will be- 
come disciples of Jesus the Christ, and (c) efficient in Chris- 
tian service." 

In securing these results in a congregation the minister 
has no better helpers than those in the Organized class. 

The increased attendance at the school, and the increase 
of Bible study, insure the increase of knowledge of the Bible; 
the evangelistic efforts of the class add to the list of the dis- 
ciples, and the work in the committees and of the officers se- 
cures greater efficiency among the laborers. If it is the busi- 
ness of the minister to secure these ends in his congregation, 
it is his business to promote the Organized class, because it 
insures these ends. 

The members and officers of the Organized class become 
his Pastoral Helpers, or Assistant Pastors, secured for him 
without additional financial outlay to the congregation, but 
rather with considerable increase of income — because where 

—41— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the Adults are thus enlisted their gifts largely increase in all 
lines of work. 

It is the minister's duty to look after the people who come 
into his community, invite them to the church service, see that 
they are enlisted in the work, ix members of the church, cr 
interested and induced to attend church services — Bible school 
and others — if not Christians. How much more of this work 
can the Membership Committees of half a dozen Organized 
Adult classes do than one pastor, and how largely can his. 
efforts be supplemented by these committees, if he will be wise 
enough to use them! The church member who is indifferent can 
often be aroused to greater activity by the invitation of an- 
other member, where the words of the minister would be of no 
avail. The business man, on such a committee, can influence 
a business man; the young fellow in college can reach his 
college chum; the matron the matron, and the young woman 
tae young woman, as the preacher can not. 

And all that they may do is just that much more than 
would be accomplished in the congregation if the pastor did 
not use this force. 

Many preachers look upon their congregations as their field 
of labor. The true idea is that the congregation is his fores, 
and the community is the field. Yet, because of a lack of 
effective organization of his forces, many a preacher who would 
gladly use his people as a force, is compelled to spend his 
time and energies upon the church members — cultivating his 
field. The Organized Adult Bible class brings about the de- 
sired transformation. 

Many preachers dread the organization of men's clubs, be- 
cause they do not want to multiply organizations in the church 
— or have the additional calls upon their time of one night 
each week. And while he knows he is not reaching his men 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

for service, he does not see his way clear to add this new 
organization. The Adult Bible class accomplishes for him all 
and more than Men's clubs, and does not either add another 
organization to look after, or demand the extra night. Meet- 
ing at the same hour as the school, and only increasing the 
efficiency of the present class organization, it has none of 
the objections to the club, and secures all the desired results. 

There are some preachers who find themselves out of sym- 
pathy with these Organized classes. It will be found in nearly 
every case that the preacher has himself to blame. It may be 
in his lack of tact, or it may be simply that he has allowed 
the class to become self-centered, and has never led it out in- 
to paths of usefulness. It is his duty, by suggesting helpful 
things for the class to do, and by constant conferences with 
teachers and officers of the class, to so direct the activities of 
the class that they will be a greater power for good in the 
church life. The minister must remember, too, it is his to 
serve the class, as well as it the class's duty to serve him, and 
when this double duty is recognized there is not apt to be 
much misunderstanding. Every minister recognizes the power 
of the social life of the church. And while he preaches it 
and spends much time in* practicing it himself, he is often 
caused to regret the coldness of his people. Through the So- 
cial committees of his Adult Bible class he has an opportunity 
to effectively put to work a force which will soon thaw out 
the coldest congregation, and reach many people outside, and 
draw them under the influence of the church. When he fails 
to use this force he is destroying his own usefulness, diminish- 
ing his own power, decreasing his own salary. The force is 
at his hand — it is his to use — will he seize his opportunity? 

All this will be appreciated by the pastor of a church in 
a congregation of from 500 to 1,800 people and in the larger 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

towns or cities. But in the small town and the country, especi- 
ally where they have one-fourth time preaching and the at- 
tendant short monthly visit of the preacher to his flock and 
field, it will in all probabili y be objected that it is not prac- 
tical. It is those fields where there is such a lack of pastoral 
visitation and social life and spiritual oversight that the Or- 
ganized class can do its best work. To "supply the lack"' 
is its opportunity in such a place. And the preacher should 
be the first to recognize, first, the fact that his absence from 
th^ field creates such a lack, and second, that the Adult Bible 
class is the agency at hand to supply it, all for the asking. 
It is his, therefore, to see that the class is organized, encour- 
aged, stimulated, guided and commended. 

But whether in the busy city ani big church or the out-of- 
the-way country church with its small and widely-scattered mem- 
bership, or in any of the varying forms of church life between 
these extremes, the church needs the ministrations, and the 
members need the development that comes with the activities 
of the Organized Adult Bible class, and the minister needs 
the help. 

And the minister can neither do his duty to his congrega- 
tion, best serve the community, nor do his best work unless he 
has the Organized Adult Bible class. 

The minister is usually accounted as the leader in evan- 
gelistic work in the congregation. Indeed, he often considers 
that his one work is to preach the gospel that sinners may be 
converted. That this end may be secured, it is needful that 
he should supplement his pulpit work and personal ministra- 
tions with the work of the members of his congregation. Too 
often he undervalues this power, and in -most cases fails to 
use it. It is often beyond his power to organize his forces 
for work in this line. But in the Adult Bible class he has« 

—44— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the force organized to his hand, and if he does not use it, he 
is derelict to his duty. As seen in other chapters, no force in 
the church is more effective than the Adult Bible class in win 
ning souls to Christ, and the preacher who is blinded by his 
self-conceit so he can not see his opportunity, o*r is so selfish, 
lest another should share his glory in soul-saving, that he will 
not use this power, is unworthy of his position as a leader of 
the hosts of righteousness. 

THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CLASS. 

The superintendent of a school in Chicago, in which there 
was an Organized class which was considered most successful, 
came into the office of W. C. Pearce, the International Super- 
intendent of the Adult Class Department, and made the state- 
ment that he almost wished that he did not have an Organized 
class in his school. When asked why, he stated that the class 
took the best places, absorbed the best things, gobbled up all 
that was best and spent everything on self and did nothing 
for the school. When asked if he had ever requested the class 
to do anything for the school, he admitted that he had not. 
The result of the conference was to make the superintendent 
see that he had not treated the class fairly — that he had al- 
lowed it to become self-centered and to withdraw its sympa- 
thies and support from the school as a whole, when he should 
have directed it into active service for others; that he had 
been lax in the performance of his duty as superintendent in 
directing that part of his school. 

A few days later the president of the class sat in the same 
chair that the superintendent had occupied, and when asked 
what he would think of a superintendent who would say that 
he wished he did not have an Organized class, he replied that 

—45— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

he suspected that the man who had said it was his superintend- 
ent, and when asked about it, admitted that his class had be- 
come selfish and had done nothing for the school and had re- 
fused to help furnish teachers, etc., for substitute work, think- 
ing only of itself. 

The result of this conference was that the president decided 
that his class should become a source of help and strength to 
the school, supplying ushers, substitute teachers, special com- 
mitteemen, extra music. Tho class soon became a source of 
constant help and inspiration. The members were "minute 
men" ready to respond to any call, and as a result the super- 
intendent was rejoiced, and the class was happy in the joy 
of service. 

MOTTOES AND AIMS. 

Nothing .is more indicative of the work done and the spirit 
of a movement than the mottoes it adopts. From among the 
many we gather the following. The Baraca National Plat- 
form displayed in all their class rooms and printed on all their 
literature and repeated by the members at almost every class 
meeting is, "Young men at work for young men, all standing 
by the Bible and the Bible school." One of their mottoes is, 
' ' Only once a stranger. ' ' The spirit of the classes is indicated 
by such mottoes as, "Others," "The Other Fellow," "Saved 
to Serve," "Service vs. Selfishness," "The Men of America 
for the Man of Galilee." 

The methods of their work by the following: "Each one 
win one," "The next man," "The Glad Hand," "The friend- 
ly grip," "Surround the Enemy," referring to the method of 
capturing the persons not members of the class. 

The ideals of achievement and responsibility are shown by 
these: 

—46— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

4 4 Every disciple a disciple, ' ' meaning that every f ollowei 
of The Great Teacher should be a member of the class. 

''Bible people should be in the Bible school studying the 
Bible. " 

"The Lord's people should be in the Lord's House on the 
Lord's Day studying the Lord's Word." 

{Make Disciples ^ 
Baptize Disciples I lq 
Teach Disciples 

This diagram, setting forth the items of the Great Com- 
mission, is used to make the church member realize that bap- 
tized disciples as well as boys and girls are to be taught, and 
that the fullness of the promise and blessing of the Lord's 
abiding is to be secured only where the full obedience is ren- 
dered. 

Definite work in a definite time is urged, and finds its ex- 
pression in such mottoes as "30 men in 30 days," "60 men 
in 60 days," "100 men in 100 days." If the sex of the class 
or the age of the class is different, the wording changes to 
1 i boys " or " girls " or " women, ' ' as the case may be. 

Sixty Men in Sixty Days. 

In demonstration of the results of adopting a motto and 
working for a definite end, many instances could be cited where 
"Sixty Men in Sixty Days" has secured a victory. The fol- 
lowing is one case: 

1 ' A small class of men in Fort Wayne, Ind., organized and 
started out with the determination to secure :' sixty men in 
sixty days.' Result: they got seventy-five! Yes, and there 
was another result, for a men's class in Indianapolis and an- 

—47— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

other in Alexandria, Ind., hearing of the 'sixty men in sixty 
days' started out to get 'one hundred men in one hundred 
days/ " 

No better description of how the thing works has been 
published than that given by "Timothy .Stand-by, " who is 
Mr. Joseph Clark, State Secretary for Ohio. In his letter to 
his sister "Mandy, " concerning the Organized Adult class 
he says: 

"The thing woodent have stirred up the town so much if 
John Haywood haddent give the men the motto, 'Sixty men 
in sixty days.' He haddent enny more than spoke the wurds 
afore I could notis their effeckt on the klass. It waked the 
boys up and put stiff nin' in their backbones. That motto put 
more ginger into the klass than the Brush Fork Brass Band 
pumps into the old soljiers on Deckorashun Day, when it lines 
up in a circle in front of the Town Hall and plays 'Bally 
Eound the Flag, Boys.' 

"Well, Mandy, the rezult of that inspirin' motto wuz, that 
the twenty-eight boys in Saint Andrew's Men's Klass got bizzy 
in solicitin' of new members. 'Sixty men in sixty days!' 
and 'JSTo work, no oil!' wuz the passwords. There wuzzent 
a man in town what wuzzent asked to join. Jess Lew, the 
postmaster, sed that in three days he got seventeen invitashuns 
to join the klass. He hazzent bin to church, except to funer- 
als, fer sixteen yeer. He almost fergot there was a church in 
Brush Fork; but the boys went after him stiddy and didn't 
let up till he promised. 

"They even tackled old Curnel Montgomery. Most every - 
buddy in town is afraid of the Curnel. He's so kinder gruff- 
like and stands around the post office so much a-chewing to- 
baccer and lookin' glum, that it takes a feller with the cour- 
age of Teddy Roosevelt to even ask him. a question. But the 

—48— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

boys went after him and he cuddent stand it. He wuz a mitoy 
bravo man in the war. lie could march rite up to a cannon's 
mouth, but he cuddent face the stiddy fire of the boys on the 
Men's Klass question; so he held up both hands and sur- 
rendered. 

' ' Why, Mandy, afore Saturday nite, the boys had got Clint 
Stevens, the farmer down the pike, and John Lowry, the dray- 
man, and Harry Munk, the gardner, and John Eeed, the livery- 
man, and Bert Zigier, the town marshal, and a lot more that 
never thawt of goin' to church, and who, I'm ashamed to 
say, tne church never afore thawt of askin' to cum." 

"All the Church and as many more in the Bible school" 
is the Centennial Aim of the Disciples of Christ, and it is 
being adopted by many churches throughout America. 

Its adoption means the enlistment of the preacher and Of- 
ficial Board of the church, along with the officers of the 
school, m the building up of the school. It secures an earnest 
effort to systematically reach every member of the church for 
Bible Study, and secures their enrollment either for the main 
school or the Home Department. It directs attention to the 
Cradle Roll work, thus tying many a family, not otherwise 
reached, to the schools, and opens up doors of opportunity in- 
to these homes which, if properly entered, will bring the Christ 
to every heart there. It secures the attendance of large num- 
bers of non-Christians for every department, and results in 
large ingatherings into the church. It means the revivifying 
of the "dead" church, the edification of the saints, and the 
evangelization of the world. 

" 10,000 Classes, 100,000 Men, 100,000 Women." 
The far-reaching effects of this movement are shown by 
another "Centennial Aim" recently adopted by the Sunday- 
(4) —49— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

school leaders of the Disciples of Christ: "Ten Thousand 
Organized Adult Bible classes, 100,000 Men and 100,000 Wo- 
men by the. Centennial, 1909." This insures that the movement 
to reach the Adults will extend throughout the whole brother- 
hood, and because great things are attempted, great things will 
be achieved. 

At the Louisville International Sunday-school Convention, 
W. C. Pearce led the men again and again in the repetition 
of the following: 

1 ' Our Aim, The. World for Christ. 
Our Means, The Word of God. 
Our Motto, We Mean Business." 

At a great "Teacher Training Conference" at Bethany 
Park, Ind., Herbert Moninger, after the reports of great achieve- 
ments by classes and teachers, both in " Training for Service" 
and "Organized Adult Classes" had been presented, thrilled 
the audience and inspired each person present to larger efforts, 
by leading the audience in declaring that ' ' If they can do 
it, we can do it," and again and again the response from the 
audience: "And we will do it." 

Individual responsibility has been imposed upon many a 
person by these mottoes: 

"What kind of a class 
V 

Would this class be, 

If each of its members 

Were just like me?" 

and— 

"I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything. 

But I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to d@, 

and by the grace of Grod, I will do." 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

The value of working together has been impressed upon 
many by the nse of ihe quotation: 

y ' ' One shall chase a thousand, and 

Two shall put ten thousand to flight/ ' 

The expressions " doing fairly well," "we're holding our 
own/' "just jogging along/ ' "the faithful few/' etc., are 
indications of failure, and should be discarded for those of 
success. 

"Not Wanted — Discouragers ' ' is very suggestive. 

For Exchange. ' ' Shirkers for Workers. ' ' 

"Bring that Other Man" gives a suggestion as to how to 
get busy. 

Ergon means work. "The Ergonians" are workers, of 
course. 

The names, "Men's Own Class," "Boy's Own Class," "The 
Doers," "Willing Workers," "Bereans," Policeman's Class, 
News Boy's Class, Business Men's Class, Grandfathers' Class, 
Drop-in Class, "The Victors," "The Excelsiors," Railroad 
Men's Class, all indicate the ideals and aims of the classes 
which have adopted them, as well as how persons with a com- 
mon tie are drawn together into the same class. 

Questions for Class Discussion. 

(The popular convention Round Table plan adapted to the lessons.) Ques- 
tions on I^esson: "Saul and Jonathan Slain in Battle." 

First Topic: The Death of Saul; or, A Hopeless Death. (Vs. 
1-6.) 

1. Why was Saul's death hopeless? What hope can there 
be in death? 

2. Why do we look at Jonathan's death as different from 
that of Saul? 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

3. How does this lesson show that the innocent may suffer 
with the guilty? 

4. Why did Saul want his armor-bearer to kill him? 

5. What did the words, i( these unciicumcised, " as used by 
Saul, mean? 

6. Was the armor-bearer kind or unkind, right or wrong, 
in refusing to do as the king ordered. 

7. Why did the armor-bearer kill himself? 

8. Is a person ever justified in taking his own life? 
Second Topic: The Philistines Triumphant; or, Some Ma- 
terial and Spiritual Results of Victory.- (Vs. 7-10). 

9. What shows how disastrously Israel was defeated? 

10. How could they know Saul and his sons? 

11. What motives prompted the stripping of the slain and ■ 
tho mutilation of the dead? Why does modern warfare for- 
bid these things? 

12. Why did they publish this victory in the house of their 
idols? 

13. What spiritual lessons did the Philistines draw from 
this victory? 

14. Why did they put Saul 's armor in the house of Ash- 
taroth ? 

15. Why did they fasten the body to the wall? 

16. What were the material results of this victory to each 
party? 

Third Topic: The Burial of Saul's Body; or, An Act of Grat- 
ijude. (Vs. 11-13.) 

17. Why did the men of Jabesh-gilead secure Saul's body? 
How was this an act of gratitude? 

18. What does it matter what becomes of the body to the 
dead? to the living? friends? foes? 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

19. Why did these men go in the night? 

20. Why did they fast seven days? 

21. What can be said of Saul's character? What lessons 
should we learn from his life and death? 

As stated in the note under "Questions for Class Discussion" 
this plan is the adaptation of the popular convention Eound 
Table plan to the lesson discussion. It is being adopted by a 
number of publishers, and bids fair to become universal. 

The testimony of one pastor will set forth the experience 
of many. He says: "During the thirteen years I have been a 
pastor, I have ever been a teacher in the Bible school. I have 
usually had an Adult class, and at various times I have had all 
ages, ranging from young people in their teens to the 'old 
foEks. ' I am compelled to confess that I have uniformly failed 
both in building up the attendance of the class, and in secur- 
ing home or class study on the part of the pupils of my clas's. 
1 have tried the lecture plan, and tLe question and answer plan, 
and have failed. When I undertook to get up my present clas3 
(a class of 49 men, which had grown from nothing in six weeks, 
and bids fair to reach one hundred in another six. weeks), I 
determined that I would throw the responsibility of the con- 
duct of the class upon the men, not only as to organization 
and management, but as to class study and discussion as well. 
We have used the class discussion plan from the first. When 
I spoke to my men about joining the class, those who came 
first uniformly demanded one concession on my part as a con- 
dition — that I should not ask them any questions. It will be 
interesting to know that this same class, which did not want 
to be asked any questions, had to pass a rule at its third meet- 
ing, that, no man shall talk for more than two minutes, and 
none the second time on any question until all desiring to 
speak have had an opportunity. While our class has the time 

—53— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

of the closing exercises of the school, we never get through 
with the lesson, and I find my men meeting at all kinds of 
times and places, during the week, discussing the lesson. No, 
I don't mean debating the points, but discussing and trying 
to ascertain the true meaning and teaching of the word of 
God. It has developed an interest and enthusiasm, and conse- 
quently an amount of Bible study that I did' not think possible, 
and attracts and holds the men in a way which is entirely new 
in my experience." 

From the standpoint of the pupil, a lady, who had per- 
suaded herself that she could il never speak in public in the 
church," testifies that she " found her voice" through the 
class discussion plan. She says that under the old plan the 
, teacher had "expressed the ideas of the pupils for them," 
either by his lecture, or through the question process. While 
she would not admit that she was duller than other folks, 
she found that she had no very clear ideas in regard to Bible 
themes. This she found to be because she had never been 
called upon to crystallize her thought into words. When, through 
the class discussion plan, she was induced to express her own 
thougnt, she found the thought became clear in her own mind, 
and that she could talk as freely in the class, and upon Bible 
themes, as upon any other with which she was familiar. 



—54— 



SXXXX*SSXSXXSS^\^^ 



IV.— CLASS ORGANIZATION: OFFICERS. 



The Teacher. 
The Class Presidents 
The Vice-President. 

The Secretary. 

The Treasurer. 



■—55— 



IV.— CLASS ORGANIZATION: OFFICERS. 



The minimum of organization, as established by the Inter- 
national Sunday-School Association, after conferences with the 
leaders of a thousand classes, is as follows. 

Officers: teacher president, vice-president, secretary, and 
treasurer. 

Committees: Membership, Social and Devotional, or Spiritual. 

Other officers and committees may be added as occasion re- 
quires. 

THE TEACHER. 

In the ordinary Adult class, and in the classes in the primary, 
junior and intermediate departments, the teacher is the prime 
factor in the work. As the teacher is, so is the class. As the 
boy puts it, the teacher is "it.' J But in the Organized Adult 
class he is only one of the workers, and he divides his respon- 
sibility with the other officers. 

There are, indeed, many Organized classes which have suc- 
ceeded without a regular teacher being chosen — the several 
members taking turns in the teaching, and the officers look- 
ing after the other phases of class activity. While this is »not 
advocated as best, it is mentioned to show how largely the 
teacher may be relieved of work and responsibility by the class. 

While the organization of the class divides the work and 
the responsibility, it also increases the opportunity of the teach 
pr, and calls for his best thought and work in directing the 
activities of the class. So it both increases and decreases his 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

work. It is like the man, who, having done his work by hand, 
buys a machine. The machine lightens his labor, but often 
calls for more attention and skill in its management than was 
required in doing the work by hand. The compensation Is in 
t' e increased output. 

While in the other kind of class it is said that "the class 
belongs to the teacher," in the Organized class the "teacher 
belongs to the class." Because ^f this fact, he gets a support 
from the class, and an amount of co-operation that is not to 
be found elsewhere. While he is not to "lord" it over the 
officers of the class, he is to maintain the closest relations 
with them and by constant oversight and wise counsel, direct 
the class in its varied activities. He is, by virtue of his posi- 
tion as teacher, a member of every committee, and is to advise 
and help, and to be consulted in all things. Because of this 
he has opportunities and responsibilities that tne teacher of 
no other kind of a class has Happy is that teacher who can 
both see and seize his opportunities, and who gladly accepts 
and faithfully meets his responsibilities. 

The selection of the teacher is usually left to the class; but 
the class should secure the advice and recommendation of the 
superintendent in the matter. 

The Teacher Training. In the conduct of the lesson study, 
the large Adult classes demand modification of the methods 
used in the ordinary Adult class and younger classes. In meet- 
ing this demand, some teachers have swung to the lecture plan, 
practically preaching a sermon on the lesson text, others have 
used a topic, even going outside of the lesson and taking some 
current event as the basis of their remarks, others have clung 
to the question and answer process, and still others have com- 
bined the lecture plan with the question and answer system. 
The plan which has received the highest endorsement is the 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

class discussion plan — an adaptation of the popular ll Round 
Table ' ' of the Chautauqua assemblies to the lesson study. 

CLASS DISCUSSION. 

Among the pioneers in the Class Discussion Plan is David 
C. Cook, and through the publication of his Adult Bible Class 
Monthly it has been popularized. It will be of interest because 
of this fact, as well as instructive to have his statement of 
reasons for the class discussion plan, the rules to govern the 
discussion, and a sample of the questions on one lesson to be 
discussed. 

Reasons for Class Discussion Plan. 

1. To interest all the class in the lesson. 

2. To encourage all to take part. 

3. To make it easy for all to ask such questions as they 
wish to have discussed. 

4. To enable all to keep in mind the question under dis- 
cussion. 

5. To give wise guidance to class discussion and insure 
contiguity. 

6. To encourage each one J :o take part, and give time for 
all to do so. 

7. To make Class Lesson discussion practical. 

Directions for Using Questions for Class Discussion. 

Rules governing discussion and debate are thought neces- 
sary in all parliamentary bodies, and we advise th'e adoption 
of these or some similar rules, and strictly adhering to them. 
The happy results will more than repay the class for any in- 
convenience felt at first in doing so. 

1. Questions under each topic are intended to be called 
for and discussed by the members of the class. 

—59— ' 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

2. Topics are to be taken up in the order given. 

3. Any question under first topic may be called for after 
first topic is announced; any question under second topic after 
second topic is announced, and so on. 

4. It is not expected that the class will be interested equal- 
ly in all the questions, and only those called for need be dis- 
cussed. An abundance of questions is provided, so as to give 
opportunity for choice. 

5. Any member of the class may open the discussion in 
either of the following ways: By saying (1) "I would like the 

opinion of the class on Ques " (naming some question on 

topic announced). (2) "I would like to hear from Mr. " 

(naming some member of the class) "on Ques . )J (3) Or, 

"I would like the opinion of our teacher on Ques . n 

6. After the question is opened, a number of persons may 
speak upon it, the teacher calling for another question when 
in his judgment it has been sufficiently discussed. 

7. The one who asks the question may speak upon it after 
one or more have done so, but need not. 

8. No member of the class should speak more than two min- 
utes on any one question. 

9. Time taken for the discussion of questions under each 
topic should be so limited that the entire lesson may be cov- 
ered during the session. 

THE CLASS PRESIDENT. 

It is the privilege of the class to elect its own officers, in- 
cluding the president, and the usual term of office is six months. 
If the officers prove efficient and faithful, they may be re- 
elected; if otherwise, they may be replaced without offense. 

The Duties of the class president include those usually de- 
volving upon a presiding officer, and the better executive one 

—60— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

is, the better class president he will make. He will call the 
class meetings to order, state the object of special meetings, 
preside over the deliberations, put motions and announce th© 
vote, appoint committees and see that they perform their du- 
ties, plan the work of the class and advise and counsel with 
other officers and workers, and keep in close touch with the 
teacher of his class and the pastor of his church. 

In the school at the recitation hour he takes charge of the 
class and makes it ready for the teacher's work as teacher. He 
calls it to order, has a brief devotional opening arranged by 
the Devotional Committee- has tLe roll called and the offering 
taken; attends to small matters of business which can not be 
deferred to the monthly business meeting; all these things are 
done briefly and quietly and brightly and the class is ready for 
the teacher's work. The president arranges the proper closing 
of the class hour and has the proper announcements and no- 
tices read. Thus the teacher's strength and thought are pre- 
served for the work of teaching the word. 

The president is the class executive, and it is his business 
to see that things GO. No one can do so much to promote suc- 
cess if he works wisely, or so much to stand in the way if he 
shirks or lacks in tact and consideration for others. 

His relation to the vice-president should be most cordial, 
and with him he should share the conduct of the class, not only 
when absent himself, but all the time; thus making the vice- 
president understand that he has specific duties to perform, 
and training him for action and intelligent service when the 
president is called away from his post. He will see that the 
secretary keeps the proper records, and makes the needed re- 
ports. He will help the treasurer to make the financial returns 
from the class to be what they should, and see that the money 
received is properly handled and reported by that officer. He 

—61— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

will see that the various committees perform their work, and 
be in every respect a leader of the class. To properly perform 
his duties, he should have the fullest information on all phases 
of Organized Adult Bible class work, as well as on the work 
of the school and the church. And while he may never be 
called upon to do much of the work himself, he should know 
how it should be done and when it is done right. This whole 
book, therefore, is a commentary on the work of the president. 

THE VICE-PRESIDENT. 

That the vice-president should hold himself in readiness to 
take the place of the president when he is absent from his 
post, goes without saying. That he should be given something to 
do in the work of the class, when the president is present, doe3 
not occur to most presidents. The Vice-President of the United 
States is president of . the Senate, and because he thus comes 
into direct relation with the Senate, is prepared, by an inti- 
mate knowledge of what measures are before the Legislative 
branch of the government, to better serve as President, if called 
upon. So with the class vice-president; the fact that he has 
some specific duties to perform in the administration of the 
class will the better prepare him to attend .to the duties of 
president when called upon. There are many things in which 
the vice-president may busy himself. Here is the campaign 
for enlargement. We want " sixty men in sixty days." While 
the Membership Committee will work for that end, the vice- 
president might be detailed as a special aid, to help to accom- 
plish the result. Or, the school is in a campaign to reach "all 
th3 church and as many more in the Bible school/ ' The vice- 
president may be the special representative of the class to help 
in the campaign. Or there is a younger set, or older set, either, 
rf people in a class unorganized. The vice-president might be 

—62— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

called upon to represent the class in the extension of the bless- 
ings of class organization to others. Then he should be ire- 
quently called upon, when the president is present, to conduct 
the. opening exercises of the class, and to preside at the regular 
meetings. In this way he will be prepared for the duties which 
will develop upon him when the president is absent. 

THE SECRETARY. 

It is generally understood that the class secretary shall keep 
the record of attendance, offerings, etc., of the class, and make 
up the record that goes to the school secretary each Sunday. 
This relieves the teacher, who, because of lack of time and a 
desire to "get at the lesson, " will neglect or put aside this 
important work. The secretary is to also keep an accurate 
record of the transactions of the class, both in the weekly busi- 
ness periods, and the monthly meetings, and to read the same 
to the class when called upon, ^iut the live secretary will not 
be satisfied to simply be a machine to record what others do. 
He will want to, make himself a potent factor in building up 
the class. He-will therefore not only record the facts about 
attendance, etc., but will so report them to the class and school 
that they will not only infefrm as to conditions, but will in- 
spire to greater activities and better work. Thus, in a report 
of the attendance, he will not only make it known that the 
class had 23 in attendance, but will call attention to the fact 
that it lacked but two of having 25 — the number planned for 
by a certain date. Also he may inform the class that while 5t 
has gained five new members during the last month, "that 
other class" has gained ten. Or, that while the collection was 
52 cents, they needed eight cents more to come up to a stand- 
ard of five cents per member. 

In securing lists of possible members from the church rec- 
—63— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

ords, from the membership committee and from the class, and 
furnishing copies of the lists to the teacher, pastor, member- 
ship committee, or others who are interested and will co-oper- 
ate in making the "possible pupils " pupils in fact, the class 
secretary can be of great service. 

In keeping a record of the names and addresses of persons 
who are, or have been, or ought to be members of the class, 
and at the right time furnishing the name and address to a 
worker, he has helped to hold or secure many a pupiL To. the 
secretary the names and addresses of all "new" people who 
have come to town should be handed, and by him lists of people 
should be constantly going to the pastor, superintendent, teach- 
e*, membership committee, and other workers. 

The secretary is the correspondent of the class, and by his 
activity the class is kept in touch with the outside world — 
publishers of class supplies, newspapers, other classes, leaders 
in Sunday-school work, and of benevolent enterprises which the 
class may wish to help. 

Through him should go the report of the organization, the 
officers, the membership and the work of the class to the 
school superintendent, the preacher, the state and county 
missionary associations and Sunday-school associations, so that 
the organization of the class may be officially recognized, and 
the work recorded, both for information and as inspiration to 
others. 

Division of the Work. A writer in "The New Movement 
Monthly," calling attention to the largeness of the secretarial 
work in a class of one hundred or more, tells how one class 
provides for its accomplishment by a division of labor. He 
writes: 

' ' One large class in New York City has been giving close 
attention to the equable division of secretarial labor, and its 

—64— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

methods, stamped with the approval of success, merit investi- 
gation and at least tentative application elsewhere. 

' 4 With a present enrollment of upwards of one hundred 
names, and an organization somewhat military in character, but 
of great efficiency, the handling of the many and constantly 
multiplying phases of its secretarial work having become too 
complicated for the first secretary, he was raised to the rank 
of general secretary, with five assistants, among whom the work 
was distributed after the following plan, which dovetails with 
the scheme of organization: 

"The members of the class are distributed according to their 
location in the city, into groups of ten — necessarily incomplete 
— under group captains. According to the original plan, tho 
new names and addresses, as they came in to the secretary, were 
to have been sent by him to the captains of the several districts 
to which they belonged, but the post card lists had been com- 
ing in, and the overcrowded secretary, immersed in other details, 
had mislaid some and delayed others, with the result that all 
this machinery of organization lay idle and unproductive. Now, 
with his corps of assistants, he has little of the actual work to 
do except to distribute the names of the group captains and 
then pass the card on to the secretary on class literature. The 
business of this secretary is to send the printed matter of the 
. class to the addresses on the card, and a form letter of appre- 
ciation to the sender of the card. Besides this duty, he is 
charged with keeping the literature up-to-date, and reporting 
any need of new or renewed literature to the secretary on ad- 
vertising and printing, whose duties, after the initial arrange- 
ments with newspapers and printers have been made, are con- 
fined chiefly to mailing the material placed in his hand for 
publication by the secretary on class literature and the third 
assistant secretary, called the press agenc. 
(5) —65^- 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

In the initial arrangements with the newspapers, the secre- 
tary on advertising stipulates for space in the religious news 
columns for a periodical write-up, making this a condition for 
placing the class ad. It is the business of the press agent to 
supply the write-up. 

A recording secretary keeps the minutes of the class. Usu- 
ally in a large city class a stenographer 1 will be found among 
the members, and, as the work is limited to taking notes of 
the committee reports and an occasional incident, it is not hard 
to find a willing hand to do this work, as was the case in the 
class under consideration, where two offered their services. 

"An attendance secretary keeps in touch with the group 
captains, who submit weekly reports of attendance in their 
several groups. The work of taking attendance is thus greatly 
simplified, and the monotonous five minutes of roll call is ob- 
viated. 

The five assistants, with the general secretary, form an ad- 
visory board of six, which considers and passes upon the work 
of each secretarial department, as submitted at the monthly 
meetings. 

"The whole plan calls for but sixteen earnest members, and 
every large class offers abundant material to the determined and 
tactful organizer." 

THE TREASURER. 

What is the need of a class treasurer when we already have 
a school treasurer to receive and care for the money? If the 
class is to do no more than "the other kind" of class, there 
is no need. But because the Organized class does more, there 
is the demand for this office. 

1st. The Organized class contributes to the main school for 
current expenses. It should see to it that its contributions not 

—66— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

only cover the expense at which the school is at to supply the 
needs of the class, but it should give enough that it should not 
only not be a burden to the school, but became a positive finan- 
cial help. To this end the treasurer should inform himself as 
to the rightful share of the class, and see to it that the class 
knows what is required of it and that it meets this requirement. 

Some classes provide for this by putting all collections into 
the class treasury, and paying out to the school treasury a stated 
amount agreed upon between the class and the school authori- 
ties. Other classes pay all the regular class contribution into 
the treasury of the school, and are allowed a certain amount 
to be spent upon supplies for the class. In most cases no ac- 
count is kept as to cost of supplies, the school furnishing what 
the managers choose, often without any consultation with the 
class. It will be found that it will be better for the Adult 
class to know exactly what its supplies cost, and what is ex- 
pected of it. As financial representative of the class, this be- 
comes the duty of the treasurer. 

In providing for the work of the class, the class sometimes 
keeps all of the offering except that agreed upon and sent to 
the school treasurer. In other cases, special offerings, some- 
times in the form of dues payable at stated periods, are re- 
quired; and in others the class earns money in various ways, 
such as giving socials, lectures, etc., etc. 

The class treasurer will be busy in proportion as the class 
does special class work. The Organized class usually wants 
some extra supplies in the way of special helps for conduct- 
ing Organized Adult Bible class work — books, magazines, class 
pins, class banners, certificate of organization, etc., etc. These 
should be paid for out of the class treasury, and the treasurer 
must see that the money is provided. 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. « 

The class often wants to fit up its class room with special 
furnishings — carpet the floor, refinish the walls, procure pic- 
tures, # maps, and blackboard, or curtain off a corner in the 
main room. 

Tbe several committees will want special supplies with 
which to do their work. The membership committee will need 
stationery, postage, cards and badges, Bally Day material, 
banners, etc. The Social Committee will need to pay for re- 
freshments at socials and class banquets, and must have money 
for printing invitations, etc., and for postage. The Devotional 
Committee will also have occasion to use printer's ink and 
postage. All these funds are to be collected, paid out, and 
properly recorded and reported by the treasurer, and he will 
have a voice in the proper apportionment of the funds to the 
several committees. 

The special class collections for missions, and the raising 
of special funds for some benevolence, should be promoted by 
him. 

From all this it will be readily seen that the opportuni- 
ties of the class treasurer are great, and that as the general 
financial agent and manager of the class, he should be one of 
the best business men (or women) of the class. 



SSSSSSSSXSSSSS^^ 



V.— CLASS ORGANIZATION: COMMITTEES. 



Membership Committee. 

Social Committee. 
Devotional Committee. 

Other Committees. 
Class Demonstrations. 



—69— 



V— CLASS ORGANIZATION: COMMITTEES. 



THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE 

This committee is so important that without it there would 
be no class. That is, some on„ or more persons must act as 
a Membership Committee, although not necessarily known as 
such, in order to get the members of ilhe class together. This 
preliminary work is most important and has been successfully 
done by the pastor of the church, by a teacher, or by one or 
more members of the prospective class. After the class has 
been organized the committee on membership will be appointed, 
and its duties will be to look after the attendance of the mem- 
bers of the class and to secure new members. Stating it broad- 
ly, the duties of the committee on membership will be three 
fold: 1. To secure a class; 2. To build up the class; 3. To hold 
the class. 

Securing a Class. — The methods of securing an Organized 
Adult Bible class vary according to conditions. 1. In every 
school there will be found an unorganized Bible class. In this 
case, if it is a mixed class of males and females, the thing to 
do is to divide the class and build out of the one two classes. 
While there have been some successful mixed classes built up, 
the same men and women working in separate classes could, 
in almost every case, have done much better work had they 
been in ' 'Men's classes for Men" and "Women's classes for 
Women." 

With the nucleus of an Organized class in the membership 
of the ordinary Bible class, the work is begun. A list of all 

—71— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

possible pupils is made up, and those within go after those 
who are without. It will often be best to get some of the 
outsiders to "help get up the class/' as additional workers 
are thus secured, and often a man will join a class he helps 
get up, when he would not come into one already formed. 

The Charter Membership plan has been used with fine effect. 
Besides the advantage of appealing to people to "help get it 
up, " there is an opportunity to insist upon immediate decision, 
in order to get on the charter membership list. Then there is 
a definiteness about the proposition, and a promise of better 
things, which appeals strongly to Adults. 

The heading to be used for securing a Charter Membership 
List, as suggested by the Christian Bible School Association 
of Missouri, is as follows: 



CHARTER MEMBERS 
Organized Adult Bible Class. 

We, the undersigned, at least 16 years of age, desire to become 
charter members of a 

Men's, Women's, Young- Men's, Young- Women's 

Organized Bible Class, organized up to the International Standards, 
with Teacher. President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, and 
with Membership, Social and Devotional Committees, said class to be 
a part of the Christian Bible School of 

and to choose its 

own name, form of organization, and conduct its own affairs. 

All applicants for charter membership will be duly notified as to 
time and place of organization. 
Name Address 



The Organization. — According to the promise in the appli- 
cation for charter membership, each applicant is notified of 
the time and place of the meeting for organization. At this 

— 72— • 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

meeting the class is organized by the selection of the neces- 
sary officers, and by the selection of a class name and some- 
times by the adoption of a constitution. (See suggested form, 
Leaflet No. 2, appendix.) Afterwards the committees are ap- 
pointed by the president, with the advice of the teacher, and 
other details of organization are addel. 

New Classes. — In every community there are enough people 
outside of the school to form two or three Adult classes. It 
is often an excellent thing to get up an entirely new class of 
outsiders. It has been done many, many times. Making a 
list of possible pupils, and selecting several of the leaders 
among them, the pastor, superintendent or other worker, has 
gone to them with the Charter Membership plan, explained 
th.) workings of the Organized class, secured their interest, 
and started them to work securing charter members. In a 
Missouri town twenty-six young men were thus secured in a 
few days, where before not one of them> had been in the school. 
A class of fifty men was secured in a few weeks in the same 
manner. In one church, when listing up and classifying church 
members, it was found that the membership contained thirteen 
grandfathers. A "Grandfathers' Class ?; was proposed; and 
where only .one of the men would come to the regular Bible 
class, twelve of the thirteen joined the " Grandfathers ' Class.' ' 

Certificate of Recognition.- Not only for the encouragement 
of the class, but to be sure that the work of the organization 
is made complete, and the class is properly enrolled, the ap- 
plication for the Certificate of Recognition should be filled out 
and sent to your state secretary of the International Sunday- 
School Asso iatibn. In Leaflet No. 3, found in the appendix 
of this book, full information will be found. 

Sometimes the work of the Membership Committee is di- 
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The Organized Adult Bible Class, 

vided between two committees, called the Lookout Committee 
and the Look-in Committee. The Lookout Committee is the 
one which sees to it that the class is secured and built up; the 
Look-in Committee sees that the members are held in the class 
after they are once added. 

Building Up the Class. — Many of the same methods used 
in securing the class are used in building up the class, when 
once organized. A list of possible pupils, and going sys- 
tematically after certain individuals, is absolutely essential. 
W. C. Pearce tells of an insurance agent who came to Chicago, 
and out of 2,000,000 people selected a particular man in a 
particular office of a particular building on a particular cor- 
ner, and went to him with a particular policy, in a 1 particular 
company. And, he says, he wrote the policy. 

j. Z. Tyler used to say that when somebody asked him to 
dine with him "sometime, " it was always some time before 
he got around; but if the same man asked him to come to his 
house the next Thursday and take dinner with him, he was 
aiways on hand, unless absolutely prevented. 

Borne one else has said that the way to build up a class 
was to build it up one by one: and to (1) Pick out your man-, 
( k Z) Go after him. While all this leads to effective work, it 
is not the only successful method. 

The Stranger in Town. — The new man or woman or family 
in town is a challenge to the activities of the Lookout Com- 
mittee. In the Demonstration of the Baraca class at the Louis- 
ville International Sunday-School Convention, it was shown 
how, when a certain Mr. Moore came to town, his presence 
was reported to the class. A call for volunteers was made, and 
a man was sent to see Mr. Moore every day during the week, 
and a special man sent to bring him to the class on Sunday 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

morning. While Mr. Moore protested at first that he would 
not go to Sunday-school — "a place for women and kids' ' — and 
pleaded for rest on Sunday morning, by the persistent efforts 
■of the men sent after him he was induced not only to come 
to the school, but also to join the class. 

In another class, where the names and addresses of visitors 
are secured on cards, this is followed up by a series of per- 
sonal letters from members of the class committees and offi- 
cers, and, during the week, by a visit from the class teacher 
and perhaps otners. All these point out attractive features 
of the class and its work, and urge the newcomer to become 
a member. These letters do not * ' happen ' ' to be written, but 
are the result of careful planning and faithful performance. 

Contests. — The Apostle Paul believed in running the race 
to win, and in provoking one another to good works. We all 
want stars in our crowns, and sing with enthusiasm — "The 
prize is set Defore us, To win his words implore us. " All of 
this is anotner way of saying that we approve of the contest 
idea. Tnat some contests are failures, that some people art? 
unfair, some get mad and make trouble, some fan to carry out 
the plans, some have the wrong ends in view and work in the 
wrong spirit, and still others ao not follow up the contest and 
thus fail to secure the best results, is no argument against 
the contest plan, with its aim the building up of the class, its 
spirit one of generous rivalry, its organization and conduct in- 
telligent and fair, and its results, because of persistent follow- 
up work, the permanent enlargement of the class. 

Kinds. — Among the various kinds of contests are those be- 
tween two sections of the same class; between two classes; 
between all the Classes of the school, where the contest is 
for points agreed upon; and between schools. The aim of 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the contest is to build up the class — the immediate aim, to de- 
feat tne opponent. The resuH to the class is to secure more 
workers, more work and more members. The reason why we 
are not in a revival continuously, is because we quit working. 
A school which had about ten school contests in six years grew 
from 120 in attendance to a membership of 2,300. 

To make a contest "go" two things are essential. First, 
you must "plan well your work"; and second, you must "work 
well your plan." Failure to do either is fatal to the contest. 

Three schools in the same town held Eed and Blue contests 
the same winter. The first failed to plan its work and was 
coon crowded with people for whom there were no teachers, 
no room in classes, no seats provided, no literature secured. It 
was the natural thing for the school to fail to hold the addi- 
tions and condemn the contest. The second school failed to 
work the plan, but turned aside into a contest simply to beat, 
with the result that the contest was called off after two weeks. 
The tnird school had a half dozen meetings of the teachers, 
officers and workers, studied carefully the plans, prepared for 
the contest thoroughly, persistently pushed the plans agreed 
upon during the contest, and intelligently followed it up. The 
result, which was in no way a surprise, was that \)ie attend- 
ance of 40 was multiplied by four. One class reached the mem- 
bership of the whole school at the beginning of the contest, 
and the average attendance of the school for the next four 
months was 150. 

Among the most successful contests are those against time, 
when the class attempts to reach "30 men in 30 days," or "60 
women in 60 days. ' ' An account of how it works will be found 
in the ^ chapter on "The Class." 

Advertising the Class. — One of the most effective ways of 
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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

building-up a class, as it is in building up any other business, 
is to advertise. Successful advertising depends, first, upon the 
fact that the article advertised is good; so it is needful that 
the class advertised shall be worth while. Many remember 
the story of the boy who went forth to catch the pony, holding 
out his empty hat. He caught the pony once. But, given a 
good class, it should be advertised. Class pins or buttons are 
among the effective methods. Class colors, worn or displayed, 
are helpful. Class demonstrations, at picnics, at conventions, 
and in the school and church, are successful. One class of men 
.met at the leading hotel in town and marched, 100 strong, 
through the main streets of the town to the church; another 
took charge of the Sunday night services once a month; an- 
other had charge of the music at a special service; another 
supplied the waiters at a church supper. At Louisville a 
Baraca Class gave a demonstration of its work. At this same 
convention, 1,200 men, wearing the International emblem of 
the Adult Bible Class and carrying banners and singing songs, 
marched down the main street to the Armory, and had special 
seats in a special service for men. 

Printer's Ink. — But aside from these indirect ways of ad- 
vertising, many classes spend much money for "printer's 
ink. ' ' One school recently took a fourth of a page in a daily 
paper, in which to advertise the school and its special features. 
Many classes have regular advertising space in the local pap- 
ers, with announcements of its meetings and write-ups of its 
work in the news columns. The Advertising Committee and 
Class Eeporter thus become a part of the working force, and, 
as their work is to build up the class by publicity, can be prop 
erly classed under the Membership Committee. 

The following "Pointers for the Class Eeporter M were writ- 
—77— ' 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

ten by an editor and published in The Adult Bible Class 
Monthly, and will be found suggestive and helpful: 

"1. Do not ask the editor to write your notes and an- 
nouncements. When he gives his valuable space to you freely, 
he has done enough. Write the items yourself, and prepare 
them as you want them to appear in prin.t. Many reporters 
hand in items that are abbreviated, words left out, phrases 
mixed, a mere memorandum of what they want printed. This 
means the editor must rewrite them, and that does not improve 
his temper. 

"2. Be very careful to spell correctly a*nd write plainly 
all proper names, and do not fail to give initials. A misspelled 
name spoils the item for that person. No one but an editor 
knows how sensitive people are about the spelling of their 
names. The writer has known an advertiser to refuse to pay 
for a half page advertisement, because one letter in his name 
was wrong. 

"3. Be always on the lookout for an item of news in which 
you can mention the name of your class. Do not wait for some- 
thing important to happen, but find items. 'B. T. Henry, pres- 
ident of the Alive Bible Class, is visiting his father at Canton 
this week/ ' Several members of the Alive Bible Class hava 
been sitting up with J. T. Bans, who is seriously ill with 
typhoid/ ' Carson Davis, of Mt. View, is visiting T. I. Coil, 
treasurer of the Alive Bible Class. ; There is scarcely a week 
passes but you will know some such item that the editor will 
be glad to use in his column of ' Personals. ? 

"4. Try to make your announcements and write-ups of 
class affairs different — different from, other people's and dif- 
ferent from anything you have said before. 

"For instance, if you are writing an invitation, remember 

—78— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

that the 'public has beeu cordially invited' so often, and 'an 
invitation extended to all' so frequently, that those terms are 
not very likely to cause a rush your way. Try it some other 
way. 'The Alive Bible Class gave the glad hand to five new 
members last Sunday. The glad hand is ready to welcome 
others who wish to come. ' 

"It is frequently a good plan to work an announcement into 
an account of something that has already happened. 'The 
Alive Bible Class enjoyed an hour of music, fun and ice cream 
at the home of its president, E. T. Henry, Tuesday evening. 
This class is planning to give a public social for the young 
people of the town on June 12.' 

"It is also a good plan to occasionally mention some im- 
portant discussion of the lesson, and announce the subject for 
the next Sunday's discussion. 

"5. Be regular with your items. Have a certain day, pref 
erably Monday or Tuesday, and always get your items to the 
newspapers on that day. 

"6. Look on this work as not only important, but as a part of 
your Christian duty. For the time at least, it is your calling. 
It is your message, your way of preaching the gospel; for, 
directly or indirectly, you are bringing people to the class, 
and that means interesting them in the study of the Book 
which is a lamp unto their feet. } ' 

The use of printer's ink in the production of cards, fold- 
ers, invitations, posters, circular letters, etc., not only for the 
use of the Membership Committee, but for all committees, 
has been demonstrated to be of great benefit. Samples of these 
will be found in the Appendix of this book. 

Holding the Class. — In spite of the best efforts of the Look- 
out Committee to secure new pupils and build up the class, 
there is a leakage which, in some cases, is so large that the 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

class fails to grow. Xew pupils are constantly being added, 
but the failure is in holding the members. For this reason it 
becomes necessary to have a Look-iu Committee, whose busi- 
ness is to watch after the members of the class. The parable 
which impresses the duties of this committee most forcibly is 
that of the lost sheep. "A certain man had an hundred sheep/' 
and when one went astray he left the ninety and nine and 
went after the one until he had found it. It is incumbent 
upon this committee to know how many sheep belong to the 
flock, how many "come up at feeding time,-' and then to go 
after those astray, until they are found. To "know the sheep' ' 
records must be kept, and to go after them requires work. 
In the ordinary class this usually is all put upon the Teacher. 
In the Organized Class, it is divided up among the members 
of the class. 

In one St. Louis class, each member has a special chair 
in which to sit during the class services, and every five per- 
sons is a company, of which the first is captain. It is the busi- 
ness of each section to look after its absentees. 

In another class, the Look-in Committee is the committee 
to look after the absentees. It is made up of members living 
in different parts of the territory, and so it is comparatively 
little work for each member to look after those in his division. 
When the member in a section finds that he is unable to hold 
a member in the class by invitation, he reports to the commit- 
tee as a whole, and other members help. If they find that 
they need the help of the Teacher or pastor, they report the 
case to them, and they all work together to hold the straying 
one. They also work in closest co-operation with the other 
committees and the President, in order that the back-sliding 
member may be interested and be saved to the class. Thus 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

by persistent effort the membership of t he Class is held after 
it has been built up. 

While very muck depends upon the efficiency of the Mem- 
bership Committee in securing, building up and holding the 
Class, yet we must recognize the fact that no Membership 
Committee, however good, can succeed alone. The others must 
do their part; and a reason for the failure of this committee, 
in some cases, is that the class is not worth attending. On 
the other hand, no Teacher or class can do its best work unles3 
this committee is both active and efficient. 

THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE. 

Often the idea holds that the chief duty of the Social Com- 
mittee is to feed the body — to give social entertainments, the 
chief feature of which is a supper or luncheon. That good 
eating tends to sociability there can be no doubt; and that 
often a very near way, if not the nearest way, to a man's (or 
a woman's) heart is through the stomach, has been demon- 
strated. 

While this is true, it is more often true that the social 
nature needs feeding much more than the physical. Any man 
can "feed" at home, but there must be company to feed the 
social nature. That this is often neglected, and that many 
good people, who would not knowingly allow any friend if 
theirs to go hungry for lack of physical food, carelessly neg- 
lect to supply the demands of the social nature of not only 
their friends, but of those of their own household, is too true. 
Many a man and boy, failing to find this demand supplied by 
home or church, drifts to the saloon or den of vice. The 
"good fellow," with his vices and follies, has a larger influ- 
ence over the boy or young man than his father or his father's 
friend. The questionable resort is often more eagerly sought 
(6) -81- 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

than the parlors of church and home, because of the sociabil- 
ity of the former, and the lack of it in the latter. The power 
to reach and hold people, either for good or evil, through their 
social nature is almost unlimited, and the influence of the 
man is no less. The fact that in the Organized Class persons 
who are alike are thrown together, makes this organization 
most powerful in doing social work. "It takes a thief to catch 
a thief/ ' "Send a boy after a boy — a man for a man, M etc. 
Men are hungry for sympathy and friendship, and it is a fact 
that they can find more of these things in connection with 
the new Adult Classes than they can anywhere else. 

The highest work that can be done through social activi- 
ties of the class is not, however, the ministering to the social 
nature, but ministering to the spiritual nature through the 
social nature. The motto, "Social to save," embodies the idea 
which should dominate the committee and the class. One class 
never gives a social for itself, but always for others, and re- 
alizes the joy which comes with service, and proves 'that it is 
"more blessed to give than to receive." 

Needs of the Work. — The all too frequent complaint of the 
coldness and lack of sociability of our churches and schools 
shows the need of this work by the classes. Too frequently, 
especially in large classes and churches, the members of the 
same class are hardly on speaking terms with one another. 
The writer was told by a. man in the country that he was not 
quite sure of the name of the family that lived three-quarters 
of a mile away, as they were newcomers, and had only lived 
there six months. Many a man or woman coming to a new 
place of residence has been won to the church and its activi- 
ties* by the hearty greeting, or has drifted away and been lost 
to the cause for the lack of it. In but few places are the social 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

conditions such that they can not be improved by the activi- 
ties of the Social Committees of the Adult Classes. 

Plans of Committee Work. — No attempt will be made to 
give suggestions as to how to conduct " Social Evenings" 
or entertainments in this book. The reader is referred to one 
of the many books published on the subject. We are exceed- 
ingly fortunate in having come upon a time when the Chris- 
tian Endeavor and kindred societies have called into existence 
a library of such books, the instruction and suggestions in which 
may be readily adapted to the class social. The purpose of 
the class social may be properly discussed, however. If it is 
arranged simply to please the committee, it is a failure before 
it begins. If it is planned for the pleasure and profit of the 
class, it is a success. But if the whole class is enlisted in giv- 
ing a social evening "For Others," whether these others are 
prospective members, whom the class hopes to win, or, on the 
other hand, some lonely folks whom the class hopes to help, 
the social will surely be a success. The greatest social will be 
the one that serves most. 

Organization of the Committee. — No one thing con- 
tributes more to the success of the Social Committee than 
the organization of its work. "What is everybody's business 
is nobody's business." The imposing of special duties upon 
each member and the holding of each one to strict account for 
the performance of his duties, is the work of the chairman of 
the committee. The following division of labor is made in one 
committee: 

1. Two members to have charge of the refreshments. They 
are to know all about what to serve and how to serve it and 
what it will cost. 

2. Two members to have charge of the printed matter and 
invitations. They are to hunt up bright ideas, and know what 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

things cost and hew to use printed matter most effectively- 
3. Three members are the Entertainment Committee. They 
are to be posted on games, suppers, pictures, walks, receptions 
— everything which will entertain and help. Everybody is to 
unload all their bright ideas on these three, and they are to 
have all kinds of good things at hand ready for the committee 
as a whole to make its selection. 

4 Two members compose the Decoration Committee, which 
shall see that the rooms are opened, warmed, ventilated and 
prepared in the most attractive way possible. 

5. The Emergency Committee consists of the chairman and 
other members, who shall do whatever is left over to be done, 
and help out wherever needed. 

6. The whole class is on the Eeception Committee, which 
is to see that every person present, especially the strangers, are 
made welcome — not only at the class social, but at the church 
and school, as well as to promote the sociability of the mem- 
bership of the class and school. 

The possibilities for good to be accomplished by the Social 
Committee are unlimited. A preacher was asked to point out 
the most influential man in his congregation. He took the in- 
quirer to a big German, with a big hearty laugh, a handshake 
that had soul in it, and a smile of welcome that had assurances, 
and a pat on the shoulders of the departing man that was a 
benediction. When asked, " Where did you get him?" he re- 
plied: "Out of a saloon." The preacher noted the steady flow 
of men to a certain saloon and sought for an explanation. He 
found it in the person of a big German, who welcomed every 
man as he came in and gave a good word to him as he went 
out. The hungry hearts of the men cared more for his hand- 
shake and words of sympathy than for the drinks, and paid for 
the drinks in order to get the smile and word. On the other 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

hand, the preacher won the German by making a friend of him 
— by complimenting him on his social gifts, and by telling how 
much they would count for God and righteousness, if they wero 
directed toward winning men for Christ, instead of to the saloon. 

The possibilities of development of power in the members 
of the committee is also wonderful. Many a man, of whom 
the most that can be said is that he is "a part of the field to 
be worked," becomes "a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed" by serving on the Social Committee, and people who 
would not think of doing "religious" work, will gladly use 
their social powers in the service of the Master. 

So important is the work of the Social Committee, that no 
class can do its best work if this committee fails to perform 
its work. 

THE DEVOTIONAL (OR SPIRITUAL) COMMITTEE 

The name Devotional Committee does not include all the 
activities of this committee, and suggests the subjective con- 
dition to be attained rather than the active services to be ren- 
dered. The work of the committee includes both. 

Devotions. — The class devotions are in the care of this com- 
mittee. The opening services of the class meeting, the devo- 
tions at a class demonstration, and at all public meetings, are 
in its charge. The private devotions of the members are under 
its oversight. Not that it is to arbitrarily govern, or make any 
set rules to be observed, but by kindly advice and helpful sug- 
gestions, they are to promote the habit of private prayer, daily 
Bible study, and such other means of grace as they may find 
beneficial to their fellows. 

When the other name is used — The Spiritual Committee — it 
at once suggests other ends and activities. The devotions of 
the class are but means to these ends — the strengthening and 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

development of the spiritual nature. But the devotions are 
not the only means. Other activities of the committee are 
given below. 

Promoting Bible Study. — Just as the Membership Committee 
is to take the burden of building up the membership of the 
class from the shoulders of the Teacher, so the Spiritual Com- 
mittee should take the burden of promoting Bible Study. This 
it can do, first, by studying the lesson itself; second, seeing 
that attractive literature is placed in the hands of the mem- 
bers; third, encouraging by personal work, or, by raising stand- 
ards, or reports to the class, by the use of individual records, 
or other methods, the previous preparation by all the members 
of the class. 

Promoting Class Discussion. — It is the province of this com- 
mittee to take such lead in the class discussion as will develop 
the class. On the one hand, it should see to it that there are 
no "painful pauses' ? in the class work, but under the leader- 
ship of the Teacher it should make the recitation bright and 
helpful and ^profitable. At the same time it should see that 
it knows how to keep silent, not only to give the other mem- 
bers a chance, but to encourage those who do not often take a 
part. There is much latent talent in every class, which should 
be developed, and by finding and developing it, the committee 
is not only blessing the individual, but the class and the world. 

The committee may help the Teacher in securing persons 
to prepare special short papers or talks on special features of 
the lesson or related topics. 

A little judicious personal work during the week, during 
which,- by directing the attention of members of the class to 
the questions for the next lesson period, and creating an inter- 
est in their discussion before they come to the class, will in- 
sure a most interesting recitation period. 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

Lesson Advertisement. — The same work is accomplished *n 
a public way by the Lesson Advertisement plan. These adver- 
tisements are placed in depots, hotels, on bulletin boards and 
in the newspapers, and attract men to a Bible class, just as 
they do to a department store special sale, or to a circus or a 
picnic. The samples given below are taken from The Adult 
Bible Class Monthly, on the lessons for September, 1908: 

LESSON TEN. 

NUMBER ONE. 



IN THE BIBLE CLASS 

Sept. 6, 1908, 
THERE WILE BE A DEBATE ON THE 

QUESTION: 
Resolved, That Saul was Insane and so not Mor- 
ally Responsible for His Conduct. 
FOUR PREPARED DEBATERS. GENERAL 
DISCUSSION. 



NUMBER TWO. 



THE DEATH OF A KING. SOME CAUSES. 
SOME CONSEQUENCES. 



LESSON ELEVEN. 

NUMBER ONE. 



FROM SHEEPCOTE 

to 

THRONE. 



NUMBER TWO. 



THE DIVINE AND THE HUMAN 
in 
KING MAKING. 

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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 



NUMBER THREE. 



KINDNESS vs. FORCE 

in 
WINNING A KINGDOM. 



LESSON TWELVE. ' 

NUMBER ONE. 



ISRAEL A KINGDOM 

Contrasted with 

ISRAEL A THEOCRACY. 



NUMBER TWO. 



GOD IN GOVERNMENT. 



NUMBER THREE. 



SELFISH SELF-DESTRUCTION 

and 

UNSELFISH SELF-EXALTATION. 



LESSON THIRTEEN. 

NUMBER ONE. 



GOD'S CURSE 
THE USE OF STRONG DRINK. 



NUMBER TWO. 



THE TYRANNY 

of 
KING ALCOHOL. 



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The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

Church Services. — While we insist that the school is as 
much a church service as any held in the Lord's house, yet in 
the use of the term here we refer to the other church services. 
It is within the scope of the work of the Spiritual Committee 
to encourage the members of the class to attend regularly on 
the preaching services of the church. Around the Lord's table 
are such sacred memories and such inspirations to give our 
lives to the Christ, even as he gave his for us, that no one can 
miss that service without a distinct spiritual loss. And the 
sermons are few, indeed, which will not minister to the recep- 
tive mind and heart some good. For the sake of the develop- 
ment and growth of the spiritual life of the class member 
the committee should see to it that their attendance is as 
regular as possible. The other phase of the subject is that the 
service needs the Adult. How much of inspiration their very 
presence gives! Their voices in the song service and the re- 
sponsive readings enrich the service, and their words of wel- 
come and the "glad hand 7 ' given to strangers and their fel- 
lows are a source of strength to the church, which no one can 
ovei estimate. In some churches the Men's Class, or Brother- 
hood, has charge of a Sunday night service each month, and 
conducts all the services, reserving a place amid its songs, 
prayers and talks for the pastor of the church. When men thus 
take part in the work of the church, other men will be attracted 
to it. 

Christian Service. — It is but too well known that most church 
members do not do much in positive Christian service. Who- 
ever may be to blame in the matter, the opportunity to enlist 
the Adults in this service lies with this committee. In its 
two-fold work of evangelism and of "caring for the flock" ?t 
has a field of activity which is unlimited, and the call is for 
workers to come into the field to labor. To look upon the fields 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

and find the work, and to help the class member to find his 
place and encourage him in his work, is certainly a great oppor- 
tunity. 

Pastoral Work. — Besides the work outlined above, which is 
really pastoral work, — for it comes under the heading, "Feed 
my sheep" — this committee, with the aid of other members 
of the class, should also "Tend the sheep." 

Caring for Converts. — After every evangelistic meeting or 
revival the problem facing every church and pastor is, How 
to care for the converts? how to hold what has been added? 
The best solution of the problem yet devised is the Organized 
Adult Class. 

In the first place, if the convert has been previously 
brought into the class there will be but little difficulty in hold- 
ing him; for he has already found his field for activity in the 
work, and a little judicious work on the part of the Spiritual 
Committee will put him in the way of larger usefulness and 
consequent joy in the Christian service. If, however, he has 
been brought in under the high pressure of the revival, the 
great danger lies in the fact that when the pressure is re- 
moved he is all too apt to fall back into his old life and desert 
the church. 

The winning of the new convert into the class will be a 
distinct gain; but when so won it remains for the Spiritual 
Committee to care for him, not only by substituting good for 
evil, in the way of environment, associations, occupation, read- 
ing, and activities, but to systematically labor to build him 
up — a new man in Christ Jesus. Here is a man who has been 
a drunkard, and, besides the craving for drink, there is the 
fellowship of "the old*gang" which tempts him to return to 
his old ways; over against this must be put a better and more 
attractive fellowship; and when the thirst for liquor comes, 

—90— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

it must be opposed by a reminder, by kind words and loving 
associations, of the better things which he is gaining in his 
new life. Here is a young fellow who "just loves fun," and 
he has been living a life filled with social activities; he can 
only be neglected at the peril of his soul. 

Here is a man who has been self -centered and selfish; he 
needs to be led out into a larger life, with broader vision and 
greater usefulness. Here is a woman, living with a brute of 
a husband, and among neighbors of low instincts and ques- 
tionable pleasures; how can she succeed in living the higher 
life without help? The vanities of this world have been the 
chief concern of life of this young woman; the joy of Chris- 
tian service and the richness and beauty of the things invis- 
ible must be brought to her in such a way that she shall not 
only see, but experience the joy. What a world of opportunity 
here! 

Rescue Work. — In spite of the watchfulness of the best of 
shepherds, wolves sometimes will get among the sheep and 
rend them. If the shepherd is an hireling, he will flee, and 
desert the sheep. If he is as the Good Shepherd, he will res- 
cue the sheep, even if he must lay down his life for the sheep. 
Shall not this committee remember that the servant should 
be as his master? 

Developing in Christian Service. — As the glory of the fruit 
tree is the fruit produced, so the glory of the convert is the 
fruitage of his life manifested in Christian service. Most con- 
verts fail in becoming workmen who need not be ashamed, 
because they are not shown how to work, nor trained in Chris- 
tian service. 

Naturally, the Class President is concerned in the success 
of the class, and he uses members in the work, looking at them 
from his point of view. But with the Spiritual Committee it 

—91— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

is different. They look to see what will develop the spiritual 
nature of the member; and so, in their consultations with the 
President and Teacher, they point out to them the needs of 
the individual, that he may receive the proper teaching and 
development under the leadership of the class. 

Helping a Fellow. — In New York there is a Society of 
Big Brothers — a society of men who choose each a boy who 
needs a big brother to advise with and help him. It is doing 
a world of good. Something of the same kind might be done 
in every school — the big brothers looking out for the little 
brothers. But there is a very important lesson to be learned 
from the following incident: 

A Big Brother, in conversation with a little brother, said: 
*"Now, my boy, if you ever get into trouble, just let me know, 
and I'll help you out." To which the little brother responded: 
' ' Aw, anybody will help a fellow, if he is in trouble. But what 
I want is a fellow who will be my friend when I ain't m 
trouble." 

If one has such a friend, he, in all probability, will not get 
into the trouble. 

There is a world of worldly wisdom, as well as sanctified 
common sense in the saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth 
a pound of cure. " 

Into our cities the small town, the village and the country 
are pouring a constantly enlarging stream of young people 
to engage in its activities and help to solve the "problem of 
the city." Whether these people will cast their lives on the 
side of the good or the bad, the forces that make for right- 
eousness or the forces which degrade and destroy, will be de- 
cided in most cases during the first few months of their resi- 
dence in the city. Into the hands of the Adult Classes is given 

—92— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the solution of the problem. What a tremendous responsibil- 
ity! What a wonderful opportunity! 

Evangelistic Work. — While it is the work of the committee 
to develop to the full the spiritual life of the class, it should 
never be forgotten that it is its duty and privilege to reach 
out in every direction in order to help "win the 'world for 
Christ. " As no church can prosper unless it is evangelistic, 
so no class will be blessed unless it is filled with the evangel- 
istic spirit. It is the special privilege to lead in this great 
work. The abundant success is recorded in the chapter on 
"Wondrous Eesults. " The need is shown by the fact that in 
the average community almost one-half of the adults are un- 
evangelized. 

Methods. — Among the methods of winning to Christ are 
the following: When the new member is brought into the class 
the committee sees to it that he is brought into the other 
church services and under the best influences possible to lead 
him to the Christ. 

The President, in welcoming the new member into the 
class, gives him to understand that this is but the first step 
on the way to full fellowship in the church and full disciple- 
ship under the Great Teacher, and that the class is set for the 
"wyining to Christ and building up in Christ" of every 
member. 

The Motto, "Each one win one," adopted. by the class, 
will make definite the responsibility of soul-winning by eve v y 
member. 

The recognition of responsibility in working in evangel- 
istic meetings and the proper use of the forces of the class 
under the leadership of the committee will result in many con- 
versions — reaching many people whom the preacher or evan- 
gelist would otherwise be unable to reach at all. 

—93— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

The secret service of the Baraca Class, described both in 
"Leaflet No. 2 of the International Sunday School Associa- 
tion 7; (see Appendix) and in the chapter on "The Class' y of 
this book, has resulted in thousands being won for Christ. 

In the u ' Brotherhood of Philip and Andrew ' ' the oppor- 
tunities of personal work have been emphasized, Andrew find- 
ing his own brother Simon and Philip bringing the doubter 
to Jesus, when he was at once converted. 

At the Louisville Convention a feature of the Adult Class 
work was the meetings held at the shops and on the streets, 
at which many souls were won. 

In the three-fold work of "winning souls to Christ/ ' build- 
ing them up in Christ and training them for Christian serv- 
ice, the Spiritual Committee will find opportunities which call 
for the fullest exercise of the highest capacities of head and 
heart. With the fulfillment of its duties will come the high- 
est joys vouchsafed to man. The work of Teacher, class 
officers and all committees finds its justification and consum- 
mation in the achievement of these ends. 

OTHER COMMITTEES. 

The International Standard of Organization names the min- 
imum number of committees. The result of conferences with 
one thousand classes was the conviction that no class could 
achieve the work which the needs of the schools demanded, 
unless the membership was builded up and the social and spir- 
itual life of the class developed. At the same time, it is not 
intended to discourage the activity of other committees. The 
Adult Bible Class is an institution of such promise and such 
power that there is no work of the church which it may not 
successfully and properly undertake. 

For instance, a large young men's class .has an Employ- 

—94— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

ment Committee. This was a very useful committee during the 
winter months of 1907 and 1908, as many a young man con- 
nected with the class could testify. The committee helped the 
class to get a grip upon men which they would not care to 
shake off. 

Another class had a flower committee. They believed that 
flowers for the living meant more in a practical Christian way 
than a house full of blossoms at a funeral. 

Another class had a Sick Committee. Notwithstanding the 
name the committee was the healthiest committee on the list. 
Many a sick room was indebted to it for health and cheer and 
care, many a sufferer had a nurse who otherwise would have 
had none. Many a young man away from home was helped 
to a Christian life because some other Christian fellows helped 
him when he was sick. 

Another class has a Welcome Committee. A good committee 
to be at the door of the church as well as at the class. The 
motto of the Welcome Committee of a Young Men's Class is, 
"Kun and speak to this young man," and the committee's 
text is: '£?o man careth for my soul." 

An Entertainment Committee arranged for a fine course of 
lectures and entertainments in the community. 

Other committees are the Ways and Means, Literary, Musi?, 
Athletic, Evangelistic, Missionary, Temperance, and in the 
larger classes the Executive Committee, made up of the officers 
and the chairmen of the various committees. 

Wherever there is a need or an opportunity the Organized 
Class has a live committee helping do that thing in the name 
of Christ. 

METHODS WHICH MAKE FOR SUCCESS. 

In giving, the spasmodic gifts induced by feeling are changed 
—95— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

to the intelligent, well-planned giving by the class; a certaitt 
sum for a certain purpose is decided upon by the class, then 
each one is more than willing to do his part. By this plan 
the gifts are much larger, sometimes many times as much. 
The plea is made to the "feelings of f raternity, ' ' rather than 
"to pay for what we get." 

Going after a fellow for a special work often wins, where 
other methods fail. "When the pitcher of a class "Nine" 
moved away, the class went after and secured a fellow whom 
they could not reach otherwise by appealing to him to come 
and help them out by joining the class and becoming the 
pitcher of its "nine." 

The most approved method of "holding the boy" is to 
"get the men." "Build a wall of men around the boy so ho 
can't get out." Then he won't want to get out, for "where 
the men are the boys want to be." 

The caring for the converts of the revival meetings has 
been most successfully done by putting them to work in Organ- 
ized Adult Bible classes. 

Where the preacher visits a church but twice a month, and 
he wishes to organize an Adult class, and is hindered from 
being its teacher because of his absence one-half time, the 
difficulty has been solved by having two teachers, or by ap- 
pointing a substitute teacher to serve in the absence of the 
preacher. 

Where no suitable person for regular teacher could be 
found, the members of the class have taken turns, and in many 
cases the classes have grown both in numbers and efficiency. 

Some classes have found it a good plan to push the enroll- 
ment up to 20, and then use its energies to secure regular at- 
tendance and co-operation from each of the twenty before en- 
deavoring to increase the enrollment. Then, after a month or 

—96— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

two, make another campaign for new members, setting the 
mark at 40, and when reached, repeat the building in process, 
and so on. They hold that this is better than to get a lot of 
folks on the roll who seldom attend and never work to build 
up the class. 

A double-up campaign has added greatly to the class. The 
motto for the campaign is, "Each One Win One. " On the 
class room wall is a chart under the heading and motto, and 
en one side is the list of the members ' names, and on the other 
side the names of the possible pupils. It is then the part of 
those who are in the class to win those who are not, each man 
being responsible for the one whose name is opposite his own. 

"When are you going to invite our class out to your house 1" 
asked a member of a man he was trying to reach. "Come next 
week, ' ' was the reply. The class went, were royally entertained, 
and were rejoiced by the host of the evening joining the class 
the same hour of the night. 

In one class the "invariable rule of the teacher is never 
to close the class session without giving an opportunity to 
accept the Saviour, and scarcely a Sunday morning goes by 
without someone accepting Him." 

One class takes two collections each Sunday — one for the 
school and one for the class. 

One teacher has given to his class Teacher's Bibles to the 
value of $500. 

One pastor is the "Chaplain of the Class." 

Among the things classes have done are to help support 
an orphan, to pay the rent for a widow, to equip a gymnasium. 
to build a class room, to furnish teachers for a night school, 
support one member through college and support an assistant 
pastor to the church. 

(7) —97— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

For a Convention Motto these are effective* "The Sunday- 
school is out for business, or it has no business to be out," and, 
''The End of the Convention is the Beginning of Effort. " 
Another Motto which sets forth the ideal for a class is: "Work 
for Everybody and Everybody at Work. " 

"A special object for each month" is the rule in a school 
which has succeeded; "Missionary Month/ ' "New Members'' 
Month," "Church Debt Month," "Evangelistic Month." 
When the whole school concentrates for a whole month on one 
thing, something is done. 

One class gave a "Dutch Lunch" at the church in order 
that all the workers might meet a state worker in conference. 

Corresponding members, members who have removed from 
the town, are placed on the corresponding list, and once in 
six months- the secretary writes to each in the name of the 
class. Eeports are at hand telling how men have been helped 
and encouraged, and in some cases stopped in a mad career of 
sin into which they have been led by temptation. On the 
other hand, the return letters are often.a source of inspiration 
to the class- One class has corresponding members in Brazil, 
Peru, Cuba, Norway, England, India, Japan, Hindustan, Nova 
Scotia, Canada and in all the states of the Union from Con- 
necticut to Texas, and from New York to Washington. 

Members taken from the class to serve as teachers, and 
other workers in the school who would otherwise belong to a 
class are placed on the roll of Associate Members, and have a 
part in all the class activities except the lesson recitation. 

Will. H. Brown, President of the Loyal Sons, says that it 
is a mistake to name a class for its teacher, as it becomes 
embarrassing if the teacher is changed; or to use simply the 
class number, which means nothing. One would as well num- 

—98— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

ber the members of his household. On the other hand, the 
name should carry its one meaning without explanation or in- 
terruption. The name should also carry with it an uplift of 
thought and an inspiration to noble deeds and right living. 
Marshall A. Hudson, President of World-Wide Baraca, thinks 
there is a gain in having a name which needs explanation, so 
as to excite curiosity, and lead to conversation and interest 
and action. 

To awaken interest in the town and church, one school in- 
serted a fourth-page advertisement on the front page of a 
daily newspaper, and the men's class ran " locals' ' each Satur- 
day in the columns of "City News." 

"The Pocket Testament League, " which is doing so much 
to secure Bible reading, pledges its members to carry a Testa- 
ment wherever they go, and to read at least one chapter there- 
in each day. 

"The natural falling away of young men from the Bible 
school" is natural only when the school is conducted in the 
interest of children, instead of Adults. Where the school is 
planned for young men, it is "the natural" thing for the 
young men to remain in the school; and they stay. A thou- 
sand successful Adult classes have demonstrated this to be true. 

"Boyville" is a demonstration of the value of organiza- 
tion and of reposing confidence in and placing responsibility- 
upon the individual. At a recent gathering at Winona, 5,00'J 
boys went into camp, and governed by their own laws, enforced 
by their own officers, successfully governed the "Boy City" 
for two weeks. 

In many American cities it has been demonstrated that what 
the Adult could not accomplish for the boys, in controlling 
them, rescuing them from lives of vice and crime, giving them 

—99— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

high ideals and leading to pure and useful lives, the boys, 
rightly organized and advised, have been able to do for them- 
selves. And what is true of the boy, is true of "the old boy," 
as shown in the Organized class. 

In many schools, where there is a separate room for the 
Adult classes, the custom preva'ls, that while the class meets 
with the main school in the opening services, thus recognizing 
its unity with the school, it remains in its own room during 
the closing exercises, thus securing additional time for lesson 
study and discussion, and class work. 

In many classes, a regular program including devotion, roll 
call, business, and lesson study, with given time to be devoted 
to each, is carried out. This insures that each department of 
the work will receive attention, and that no part of it will be 
crowded out. 

A Saint Louis class of fifty has "a seat for each member," 
and aims to have each member in his seat. Other seats are 
provided for visitors and new members. The class is divided 
into companies of five, and the captain whose number is 1, 6, 
11, etc., is held responsible for his company. In the roll call, 
the secretary calls section No. 1, and the captain, or the one 
next him, reports for the section. "All present," or "Two 
absent," etc. 

CLASS DEMONSTRATIONS. 

In a "Practical Demonstration of Class Work," given by 
a class of 24 young ladies at the Adult Bible Class conference 
at Lake Geneva, August, 1907, the following "reports of com- 
mittees," which will show something of the nature and scope 
of the work accomplished, were given: 

The Welfare Committee: — "I regret to report one new 
case of sickness, Miss Clark. She was taken sick the early 

—100— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

part of the week, and is threatened with typhoid fever. She 
is now in the Sherman Hospital. We will see that flowers are 
sent. Am glad to say that Miss Johnson is better. Two of 
.our committee called on her with flowers and words of cheer 
from the class. She hopes to be with us in two weeks." 

President: — "We are very sorry to learn of Miss Clark 's 
illness and hope it may not prove as serious as is now feared. 
Miss Johnson is just now in the critical time of her illness, 
the period of convalescence, and I am sure she will be glad to 
see any of the girls who can run in and visit with her. " 

The Line-Up Committee:— "I wish to report four ab- 
sentees visited by different members of our committee. Two 
of -these are present to-day. One was found to be sick and 
reported to the Sick Committee. We have failed to secure the 
attendance of Miss Sederstrom, who has not been with us for 
six Sundays, although every member of our committee has 
called. Reason seems to be indifference. We appeal to the class 
for help." (Member of class suggested postal shower, and 
this was arranged.) 

The Social Committee: — "We are planning a hay-rack ride 
and social for next Thursday evening. Teams will start from the 
church at half past seven. Will ride out into the country to 
home of Miss Teepie. (Question — Are friends of the class to 
be invited? This was referred to the class and decided in the 
affirmative.) We also wish to report that Mr. and Mrs. Holmes 
have invited us, as a class, to take a ride up the river in their 
new launch." . 

The Push Committee.— " We have the names of three per- 
sons on our list for whom we are still working. We have just 
received two new names: Miss Jane Harris reported on the 
pew card, who will be looked up at once, and Miss May Doug- 

—101— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

las. We are quite anxious to have Miss Douglas join the class. 
She has just moved to the city and is clerking in Swan 's store. 
She lives at 430 Villa Street. Miss Adkins knows her slightly 
and has invited her to join the class. She believes that Miss 
Douglas would join the class if assured that we really want 
her. (The Smith plan was recommended by one of the class, 
and the president called for volunteers to see Miss Douglas on 
Monday, Tuesday, etc., and someone promised to call and bring 
her to Sunday-school the next Sunday.) We have the promise 
of two new members for the class. Miss Harriet Brown will 
be with us next Sunday and Miss Jones is with us today. " 

The new member was introduced to the class by the chair- 
man, all the girls rising to greet her. After the class was 
seated the secretary presented her with a class pin, saying: 
"Our class colors, purple and gold, represent royalty. We are 
all friends and all in whom the spirit of friendship dwells are 
of royal blood. " 

The Welcome Committee. — "We are pleased to report two 
visitors present, Miss Blake, connected with the Young Ladies' 
New Movement Class of the Grace Sunday-school, who brings 
greetings from her class and asks if we will exchange our class 
quartet for their orchestra two weeks from to-day; and Miss 
Baker, a stranger in the city, visiting at the home of Miss 
Shields. Miss Baker is secretary of the Delta Alpha Class of 
the Central Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school of Saint Louis." 

President. — "We are glad to welcome these friends to our 
class. Our class quartet is away to-day, but I believe the 
exchange can be arranged. The class will now be in charge 
of the teacher. " 

At this point the teacher took charge and conducted the 
regular study of the lesson. The lesson discussion plan was 
followed. Work assigned by the teacher in advance had been 

—102— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

prepared and was given by members of the class. Work for 
the following Sunday was assigned at the close of the lesson 
period. 

Eeport of the Class Secretary. — "Attendance twenty-six, two 
of whom are substituting in the intermediate department of 
the Sunday-school. I wish to announce the regular monthly 
meeting of the class at the home of our president, on Monday 
evening. Letters have been received from Miss Fay, who is 
in Mexico, from Mrs. Bond, of Galena, and also from Miss Baird. 
Miss McDonald has accepted a position and will begin work 
at once. Miss Rose, who has been away for four weeks, has 
returned." 

The class then stood up and repeated the class sentiment: 
"I expect to pass through the world but once; if, therefore, 
there is any good thing that I can do, or any kindness that I 
can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not 
defer it nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." 
After humming the hymn, "God Be With You Till We Meet 
Again," the class adjourned. Several moments of social good 
time followed. • 



—103— 



JttSSSSSXSSXSSXXXXS^^ 



VI.— THE GLORIOUS RESULTS. 



In Reaching Adults. 

Good Works. 

Estimate of Its Value. 

One Association's Estimate. 
International Sunday-School Indorsement. 



—105— 



VI.— THE GLORIOUS RESULTS. 



IN REACHING ADULTS. 

The true test of every work is the test given by the Mas- 
ter: "By their fruits ye shall know them. " 

Measured by this test, the Organized Adult Bible Class 
Movement is one of the greatest that has ever been started 
in the Sunday-school work. We can not do better than to 
give some examples of its work and some testimonies concern- 
ing it from Sunday-school leaders. 

Among the testimonies before me is a page from a circular 
issued by David C. Cook Co., under the heading, "How New 
Movement Classes Grow." The following reports are con- 
densed from this circular: 

"5 to 35 in four months. " 

" 5 to 50 in a few months. " 

"In four weeks, 6 to 26." 

* 'Organized Class of young ladies leads to like class of 
young men, 20 in each class." 

"A class of 4 grew to 42, furnished two teachers, and 12 
converts within a year." 

"One class reports that it has secured everybody for four 
miles around." 

A men's class of 5 grew to 65. 

A class of 6 attendance has 100 enrolled and 60 average 
attendance. 

3 to 130 in a town of 2,500. 

8 to 90 in live months. 

• —107— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

A New York City class grew from 16 to 122 in five months. 

A Junior Bible class at Bellville, 111., has over 300. 

A Birmington (fUa.) class of 79 grew in ten weeks to over 
600. 

In a church of 40 members a men 's class enrolled 19 names 
within three weeks. , 

In a small church which had had no pastor for two year3, 
a class of 26 was organized and grew to 60 in «ne month. 

A young men's class of 10 grows to 118 in a few weeks. 

Within a year a men's class grew from 15 to 82. 

At Zanesville, Ohio, the young men's class grew from 8 to 
61 in two months, and later to 90 members. 

A Hagerstown (Md.) school had an average attendance of 
100 and $3.00 collection. It has now four Adult Bible Classes, 
with an enrollment in them of 384, besides the rest of the 
school. 

A boys' class of 16 organized, reached 208 in membership, 
and gave $500 to remodel the building. 

A class of 12' organized, and within a month numbered 
101, reaching practically every family in the "little com- 
munity. ' ' 

From other sources, in some cases from personal knowledge, 
the following facts are gathered: 

A class of 19 boys, between fifteen and seventeen years of 
age, is paying for a new furnace for their church. 

A class of 49 men, all non-members of the school, was gath- 
ered within six weeks. 

By the use of the Charter Membership roll a class of 20 
young men was formed and grew to 29 within a month in a 
church which had no young men in its school. Among the mem- 
bers were several young men who had conducted a dance hall 
the winter before. 

—108— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

A men's class won a bartender and a number of his patrons. 
The bartender quit his business, his patrons were converted, and 
six of them became deacons, all within 18 months. 

A school, in which there was not a young man enrolled, or- 
ganized a class which grew to 25 members within a short time. 
In its membership were 2 who had formerly been church mem- 
bers, and 23 non-church members. Within a year, 24 of the 25 
were brought into the church, and 2 of them began studying 
for the ministry. 

A class of 3 men and 1 woman was divided, and a men's 
class for men was organized and grew within nine months to 
120 men. The one woman was organized, and at the end of 
the same time had almost as large a class as the men. 

A class of 6 men grew to 210 men, including every class 
of men in the community. During the following year 60 mem- 
bers of the class were baptized. 

A school was built up from 120 in attendance to an en- 
rollment of 2,300 in six years. The Organized Adult Bible 
Classes did much toward making this possible. 

A church reached the "Centennial Aim" of "All the church 
and as many more in the Bible school" within a year by the 
aid of the Organized Classes. 

A school of 40 members grew, through organized effort in 
the classes and throughout the school, until it had reached 
every white citizen — men, women and children — in an Alabama 
town of 360, and also over 200 persons who lived in regions 
round about. 

A class of men sent a sick member to the hospital, and 
when he died, attended his funeral and burial in a body and 
paid all the bills. 

Almost every kind of Christian activity that can be named 
has been carried on by Organized Adult Bible Classes. 

—109— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

A church so stiff and formal that the preacher's wife said 
it "gave her the shivers/ ' was "thawed out" by the social 
work of the Bible school classes, until it became, in the words 
of a visitor, the "most sociable church I ever visited. u 

GOOD WORKS. 

Among the good works reported are the following: 

Support a Bible Reader in China. Giving employment and 
encouragement to a woman who reported that "work is ter- 
rible scurse, and friends is scurser. 9i "The stranger within 
the gates " is looked after by the classes of young men and 
young women of a New York school, and they are not only 
made welcome, but are helped with advice and in many other 
ways. 

A class which "makes a specialty of good works' ' fur- 
nishes "watchers for the sick, food for the hungry, clothes 
for the needy, friends for the friendless, work for the unem- 
ployed, and general support and comfort for those who need it. ' ' 

A Mother's Class makes it a special part of its work to 
bring children — their own and others — into the Primary De- 
partment, and to study the lesson one week in advance, »o 
they may intelligently help their children in the preparation 
of their lesson. 

In Korea, it is the rule that to become a member in full 
standing the person must bring another one with him. "He 
first findeth his own brother." 

A circular issued by the State Superintendent of the Adult 
Bible Class Department of the Christian Bible School Associa- 
tion of Missouri summarizes the superiority of the Organized 
Class in the following words: 

"The Organized Adult Bible Class has more workers, more 
—110— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

members, more sociability, more Bible study, more conversions, 
more good works than the other kind." 

Following this general statement it specifies as follows, viz.: 
"The Organized Class has — 

"I. More Workers. — In the ordinary class the teacher is 
the one worker — the class is worked upon — it is a field, not 
a force. 

"In the Organized Class there are added the class officers, 
four other workers; the President, Vice-president, Secretary 
and Treasurer; and the three regular committees — Membership, 
Social, Devotional. 

"In Bible Mathematics — one will chase a thousand and 
two will put to flight ten thousand. In this proportion, five 
officers will not do five times as much, but twenty-five times 
as much as one. When the committees are added, we have 
at least 14 people at work, where before we had one. 

i * II. More Members. — Look at the figures below and see 
how the classes grew after they were organized. 

"Four to thirty-five. 

"Five to fifty. 

"Fifty-seven charter members in two weeks. 

"In a small church which had no preacher for two years, 
a class of 26 was organized, and grew to 60 in a month. 

"A young men's class of 10 grew to 118 in a few weeks. 
"A country school had an organized class of 65. 

"A Marion (Ohio) class grows from 20 to 400. 

"A Brazil (Ind.) class has grown to 500. 

"A Salina (Kans.) class of young ladies reached 115 in a 
year, and inspired the pastor to organize a class of young men, 
which is almost as large. 

1 l The charter members of a men 's class at Vandalia, 111., num- 
—111— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

bered 102, and included the mayor, supreme judge, every county 
official except one, lawyers, doctors, politicians, business men 
and others. 

"An Indiana class of three men and one woman organized a 
men's class for men and a woman's class for women, and in 
nine months had 125 men, and almost as many women. 

"HI. More Sociability. — The fact that the class 'belongs 
to the members' and not to the teacher helps. The Social Com- 
mittee, by visiting and welcoming strangers, by giving the 
'glad hand' to members of the class, by its Social Evenings 
and in other ways, breaks up the coldness and formality, and 
makes the whole class 'Social to Save.' 

"IV. More Converts. — A primary purpose of teaching the 
Bible is to lead men to Christ. ' The Seed is the Word. ' 
President Hudson, of the World-wide Baraca Classes for men, 
says that the 350 men converted in his men's class at Syracuse, 
N. Y., were led to Christ by the study of the Word. 

"In a class of twenty-five young men at Windsor, Mo., twen- 
ty-two out of twenty-three non-Christians were converted within 
a year. 

' ' The preacher has as many as«istant pastors as lie has mem- 
bers of the Devotional Committees in his school. 

"V. More Good Works. — Organized classes have engaged in 
nearly every kind of good work prompted by the Spirit of 
the Christ. 'A class of 19 boys is putting in a new furnace 
in a small church' \ another class of boys gave $500 to im- 
prove the church house. Another class built its own class room. 
In looking after the unemployed, the strangers within the gate, 
the man 'sick and in prison,' the orphan and the widow, in 
evangelistic campaigns, in helping the younger classes, in fur- 
nishing teachers and officers for the main school and for mis- 

—1.12— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

sion schools, in being the pastors ' l right hand/ and in a 
multitude of other ways, the Organized Adult Bible Class 
has proved its right to live by its 'good works.' 

ESTIMATES OF ITS VALUE. 

The Adult Bible Class Movement is attracting wide atten- 
tion, and is being indorsed by practically all Sunday-school 
leaders. 

Here are some of the estimations: 

There is hardly a Sunday-school paper in America which 
has not endorsed the movement; but few editors of religious 
papers who have not commended it to their readers; not a state 
Sunday-School Association which has not adopted it as a part 
of its work, and it has practically the unanimous indorsement 
of every Sunday-school worker in the world. So enthusiastic 
are the leaders of the Sunday-school hosts of the Christian 
Church for the work, that they will undertake to organize 
10,000 classes by October, 1909, the time of their Centennial 
celebration. 

Marion Lawrance, General Secretary of the International 
Sunday-School Association, says: "The interest in the Adult 
Bible Class is simply marvelous. No other word describes it. M 

The Illinois Conference, held at Dixon in 1908, gave un- 
qualified indorsement to the Organized work. The report of 
it says: 

"Those taking part in discussion represented all parts of 
the state, and all kinds of schools, from cities, large towns, 
villages and country, clearly demonstrating the fact that the 
' Organized Classes' are doing by far the most aggressive 
work, having the largest membership, holding the largest aver- 
age attendance, reaching the largest number of adults outside 
of the school, stimulating the class membership to Bible 
(8) —113— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

study and personal work and everywhere improving the Sun- 
day-school work along all lines. " 

ONE ASSOCIATION'S ESTIMATE. 

State Secretary W. W. Main, of the Massachusetts Baptist 
Sunday-school Association, who is one of the potent factors in 
Sunday-school work in New England, has written on the value 
of the Organized Classes as it applies to men. He says: 

"Organized Classes for men have accomplished great things 
for Baptist Sunday-schools in Massachusetts. Nothing in ail 
my eighteen years of Sunday-school work has been more satis- 
factory and helpful than the development of men's classes. 

"First of all, these Organized Men's Classes have been the 
means of reaching men who hardly ever entered church or Sun- 
day-school and of interesting them in Christian work. Some 
way there is something about the organization that appeals 
to men. It is the way they work in business, in politics, and 
in fraternal associations elsewhere and when they have the 
opportunity of working in this way in religious things they 
seem marvelously ready to adopt it. 

"Another point about these classes is that they seem to be 
adapted to all sorts of places and conditions. They work splen- 
didly in our city churches, yet they have nowhere shown their 
power and adaptability any more completely than they have 
in some of the remote country districts of our state. One or 
two samples of classes in the larger churches may be seen in 
the very successful ' Page Class ' of the Dudley Street Church, 
Boston, and in the 'Pinkkam Class' of the Winter Hill Church, 
Somerville. In four years the Pinkham Class has increased from 
a membership of ten to nearly one hundred and fifty. These 
numbers are inspiring, and yet no more so than the records 
of these classes in some of the smaller towns and cities. 

—114— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

"It is impossible to emphasize too much the idea that the 
principles of organization have a wonderful drawing power 
for men. A few years ago I went down to Cape Cod, to the 
little town of Harwich, intending to organize a men's class 
there. About an hour before the time appointed the rain came 
down in torrents, but in spite of this sixty-five men were pres- 
ent, and the result "of that meeting was the organization of a 
class of some thirty or forty members. In some of the remote 
Sunday-schools the organization of a men's class has been the 
means of bringing a working force of men into the Sunday- 
school, where before the organization hardly a man was ever 
present. 

"The study of the word of God is the center from which 
all the work of these classes radiates and derives its power. 
The teachers 'of such classes declare that there is no trouble 
in interesting men in the Bible if you hold up the Bible as a 
book of authority. In one of these men's classes it was a man 
who was not a professing Christian at all who made the mo- 
tion to eliminate all business from the study session, so that 
they could be free to discuss the great themes of the Bible. 

"A teacher, who is also a pastor, says: 'I have no trouble 
in starting the discussion of Bible themes in our men's class. 
The only trouble is to stop it. Often this discussion has given 
me the theme of a sermon, of which I give notice to the men, 
and they are always sure to be present at that sermon and to 
bring friends with them.' 

"One of the strongest features of the men's classes is the 
fraternal and social element. It has been said that the church 
is far behind the lodge in the fraternal care of its members. 
Perhaps the reason for this is the lack of proper organization; 
yet I could fill a large volume with stories of splendid frater- 

—115— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

nal work done by these Organized Classes. It is precisely the 
channel that is needed for that, and even the outside world is 
beginning to recognize this phase of our work. 

"A feature that is especially noticeable in young men's 
classes is the development of athletics under the best influences. 
The leaders of such classes are enthusiastic over the results 
of their athletic features. A young Catholic said to the teacher 
of one of these classes: 'You don't know what a splendid in- 
fluence your class is having in this section of the city because 
of their clean, honest athletics. I am president of a young 
men's Catholic society, and over one hundred and fifty of our 
young men have followed your games all summer.' It may 
seem strange, but it # is a fact, that many young men who have 
joined these classes for athletic privileges have found the class 
the open door to complete submission to Christ. 'One of our 
young men,' says one of the teachers, 'joined the class for 
the sake of the baseball club. He was baptized and received 
into the chureh before he played a single game with the club.' 

"Another feature of the work of men's classes has been 
the number of married couples that have come into the church 
as a result of the conversion of men. One teacher says: 'If 
a man is converted, he is almost sure to bring his wife to the 
church with him, even if she is not a Christian. But if a wife 
is converted, she is not so sure to bring her husband with her.' 

"One more important movement that we are endeavoring 
to develop is to have men who stand high in the political sphere 
address the classes upon the topic of 'Good citizenship.' Ke- 
cently we formed a federation of the men's Bible classes in 
the Worchester Baptist Association. At the mass meeting 
where this was effected, Speaker John N. Cole, of the Massa- 
chusetts House of Eepresentatives, spoke on this topic. Eev. 
A. S. Burrows, pastor of the South Baptist Church, said: 'I 

—116— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

have heard many complimentary remarks about the speaker's 
address. We need more such men at the religious front. ' 

4 k A closing word in regard to the extent and progress of 
this work. We have now enrolled in the state two hundred 
classes, with a total membership of ten thousand men. The 
future of this movement presents wonderful encouragement. It 
ought to be said that alongside with the development of Organ- 
ized Classes for men a good work is being accomplished through 
a large number of Organized Classes for women. Some of the 
methods are a little different, but the principles of fraternity 
and organization are the same. ' ' 

INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ENDORSEMENT. 

The first annual report of the Adult Bible Class Committee 
of the International Sunday School Association, made in August, 
1905, contains the following concerning the results of the work: 

"It has been demonstrated in a thousand classes that they 
double in membership and usefulness very soon after being 
organized. There is absolute certainty of success in these class 
organizations. 

"It reaches the unchurched masses and appeals to young 
manhood and womanhood, harnessing their enthusiasm and. util- 
izing it in helpful ministries along Christly lines, and extends 
the Christ spirit, so that we will soon begin to actually realize 
that 'we a*e our brother's keeper/ and that ' inasmuch as ye 
did it unto one of the least of these ye did it unto me. ' " 

In closing the committee says: 

"We have only touched the fringe of a latent power which, 
if awakened by a judicious movement, will bring into our 
schools a force even greater than we now have. We are in 
a position to-day to grasp this power, and the door is open 
for action. " 

—117— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

In closing his report to the Twelfth International Conven- 
tion at Louisville, Ky., Mr. W. C. Pearce, speaking of the re- 
sults of the Organized Adult Class movement, says: 

"A new day has dawned. We are entering upon a brighter 
and better era. Through the Organized Class movement the 
boundless energy of the manhood and womanhood of the world 
is being utilized. By means of a division of labor and the 
direction of activities provided for in the Organized Adult 
Bible Class, we are saving to the church the religious impulse 
and zeal of the young manhood and womanhood of our land. 
These clashes are being organized with the study of God's 
Word as their chief purpose, and we are therefore assured that 
all their activities will be dominated by an earnest desire to 
deepen the spiritual life of their members. Because these 
classes are a definite part of the church and school they come 
at once into a rich inheritance that guarantees to them the 
confidence of the community and a permanent field of activity. 

"The Organized Adult Bible Class is building a wall of 
men and women afound the boys and girls that promises to 
keep them in Sunday-school at a most critical time in their 
lives. It is enlisting in Sunday-school work those specially 
adapted for leadership. It is ushering in the larger evangel 
istic spirit as evidenced by the increase of membership in many 
Sunday-schools. It is developing a company of personal work- 
ers for which we have prayed so long. It is bringing to the 
church a larger missionary interest and is providing a means 
of expressing that interest. It is uniting the men and women 
as never before, in an endeavor to help each other towards a 
higher and better life. Above all, it is bringing thousands 
upon thousands to know Christ, 'whom to know aright is life 
eternal.' " 

—118— 



5^3^XoWWv3^3^X3l^3*3£5^ 



VII.— THE WONDROUS OPPORTUNITIES. 



The Wave of Sentiment. 
The Worked-Out Plans. 

The Printed Helps. 

Bern Out of Needs. 
World-Wide in Scope. 



—119— 



VII —THE WONDROUS OPPORTUNITIES. 



THE WAVE OF SENTIMENT. 

" There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at its 
flood, leads on to fortune. " 

The wave of sentiment in favor of the Adult Movement 
furnishes an opportunity for every one to accomplish results 
which have heretofore been impossible. In his report to the 
International Executive Committee, Mr. Lawrance, the Gen- 
eral Secretary, said: 

"I will not go into the details, but simply say that the 
interest is tremendous throughout the field; that the Organized 
Adult Classes are multiplying with great rapidity; and that 
it is the most promising feature of our work at' the present 
time. ' ' 

In further recognition of the ' ' most promising feature, ' ' 
Mr. W. C. Pearce, recognized as one of the most effective 
workers of the International force, was recently relieved of 
his duties in connection with Teacher Training so that he can 
hereafter give his whole time to the Organized Adult Class 
work. In nearly every state, a special Superintendent of the 
Adult Department has been appointed, and on most all of the 
programs a place, and in many instances the leading place, has 
been given to its interests. 

The leading features of many of the gatherings of religious 
workers and Sunday-school people during the year have been the 
conferences concerning and the rallies of the Organized Classes. 
Last year more than one thousand classes were represented in 

—121— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the conferences, held under the auspices of the International 
Association leaders. 

Many of the denominations have also appointed men to 
have special oversight of this phase of the work. 

The great demonstrations at Louisville — with its 1,200 men 
in line, marching through the streets — and at a number of 
state conventions show an interest which is quite remarkable, 
and have made a profound impression on the cities in which 
they were held, as well as upon the workers gathered at these 
conventions. 

The fact that many church papers (not Sunday-school pap- 
ers) have devoted and are devoting, one or more pages to a 
special Adult Bible Class Department shows an appreciation 
which is new among religious editors, and offers an opportunity 
for the furtherance of the work which has not been open in 
the past. 

The effort to make real in hundreds of churches the aim, 
"All the church and as many more in the Bible school, " shows 
an awakening which is in the same direction. All these and 
many more that might be recorded show a wave of sentiment 
^nd a concerted movement among the churches which offers 
an opportunity to the schools to reach the adults such as has 
never been theirs before. 

THE WORKED-OUT PLANS. 

The worked-out plans in a thousand Organized Classes pre- 
sent an opportunity for the workers to go forward, guided, not 
by untried theories, but by the combined wisdom of a mul- 
titude of earnest, intelligent, consecrated men and women. The 
work done by the International Sunday-school Association in 
gathering together and promoting these plans can not be valued 
too highly. The standard for the Organized Class, placing the 

—122— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

• 
minimum of organization at the Teacher, President, Vice-Presi- 
dent, Secretary and Treasurer, with at least three committees 
— the Membership, Social and Spiritual — puts the leader of 
. the class in a position where he does not have to experiment. 
The thousand other leaders have done the experimenting — he 
simply puts into operation the plans which have been tested 
and found to insure success. il Other men have labored, and 
we have entered into their labors. " It is as if a man wished 
to go hunting, and, going to the store, finds ready to his hand 
the gun and the shells — all prepared, tested and guaranteed by 
manufacturers who have made guns their study for years, in- 
stead of being compelled to begin at the beginning and work 
out all the problems of the production of high-class and effec- 
tive firearms. 

Besides all these Bible Classes many other bodies of men 
have been working on the problem of effective organization. 
The lodges — whose number is legion — the clubs, the Brother- 
hoods of Men, the Christian Endeavor and other young peo- - 
pie's societies, have all contributed their part to the general 
knowledge, and the leaders of the Adult Bible Class movement 
have had all their achievements to guide them, and the worker 
has all that they know to help him in his work. 

In facing this great problem of reaching and teaching the 
adult, we are "standing on the shoulders of all the genera- 
tions gone before. M 

Another thing which makes the opportunity more inviting 
is the fact that ' l what has been done can be done again. ' ' 
The great mass of testimony of splendid achievements of Or 
ganized Classes in all parts of the world, laboring under all 
kinds of conditions, should lead every leader to believe, ' ' If 
they can do it, we can do it, '' and to undertake to do it. These 

—123— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

offer an opportunity for him to inspire confidence in his class 
and lead it to attempt and achieve things otherwise impossible, 

THE PRINTED HELPS. 

When the Christian Endeavor Society started its work, there 
was but little literature which bore upon the work of the young 
people or upon organized work. Since that time a host of earn- 
est" men and women have written, telling of the duties and 
opportunities, the work done and the methods employed by 
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Committee, Prayer- 
meeting (Devotional) Committee, Social Committee and all the 
other committees- of the young people's societies. Since in so 
many respects the organized work of the class is similar to 
that of the society, what an opportunity we have in the pro- 
motion of the class to make use of this literature! The pub- 
lications of the various Brotherhoods, too, are at our command, 
and now the presses are busy with publications concerning the 
Organized Adult Bible Class. 

The leaflets and bulletins and reports from the International 
Sunday-school Association are to be had for the asking. This 
Association has also issued its "Certificate of Becognition" 
and (t Class Pin, " and is, from time to time, putting forth 
new information concerning the conferences being held and 
work accomplished. 

In addition to all this, the various publishers of Sunday- 
school literature are vying with one another to see who can 
produce the best "Adult Bible Class Monthly" or weekly paper 
for the information and the inspiration of the class and its 
leaders, and even the editors of church papers are giving large 
space to the work. There is but small excuse, therefore, for 

—124— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

lack of information as to the work, and a wonderful oppor- 
tunity for intelligent activity. 

BORN OUT OF NEEDS. 

The very needs out of which the Adult Movement was born 
are but opportunities. It is estimated that there are outside 
of church and Sunday-school in the United States ten million 
men. What an opportunity to build up men's classes! They 
are in every community — scores and hundreds of them; and 
the very fact that the old methods have proved inadequate 
is all the more reason for using the new ones, which have 
proved successful. 

Another opportunity lies in the fact that fully three-fourths 
of the adult membership of the ordinary congregation is out of 
the Bible school. Every Sunday-school in the world could be 
more than doubled, and not go outside of the non-attending 
church members. These millions of peoples, already disciples 
in name, need but to be made disciples in fact. They gladly 
acknowledge the fact that the Bible is God's word, and most 
of them would die in its defense, if called upon to do so; but 
they do not meet to study it, because — the old way is defective. 
"What an opportunity to use the better way! 

The crying need in almost every church is for Adult workers 
in the school — for teachers and officers. The one agency for se- 
curing them which has proved uniformly successful is the Organ- 
ized Class. The activities of the class bring in the Adult and 
makes a worker of him, and the evangelistic spirit engendered 
in him prompts him to accept an office, or to take charge of a 
class. The usual talent in every field is sufficient to supply its 
needs. The Organized Class is the opportunity for enlisting it. 

Every General Secretary is calling for more men. It is 
not now so much a matter of securing money for* the work, 

—125— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

as men and women to do it. The record of the past shows an 
opportunity imexcelled for enlisting and training workers in 
the Organized Class — an opportunity -which will grow when : : t 
becomes the custom to organize all Adult classes, instead of 
one or two in each school. 

The cry has come that the country church, once an impor- 
tant factor in the evangelization of the world, is dying out, 
chiefly for the lack of pastoral oversight and personal work. 
The opportunity to supply the lack is to be found in the com- 
mittees of the Organized Classes. 

The complaint is made that Christianity has become effemi- 
nate, and has lost its virilityr "While no one would want fewer 
women in the church, every one desires more men. The oppor- 
tunity to redeem the church from its effeminacy is to be 
found in "Men's Classes for men." Many a pastor has de- 
cried the revival meeting as worse than a failure, because the 
converts failed to "hold out faithful," and has decided against 
further special evangelistic meetings. While there is every 
reason for more, rather than less, evangelistic activity, the 
lack of pastoral care necessary to take care of the converts of 
the revival may be supplied by the "assistant pastors" to be 
found in the Organized Adult Class. 

A recent statement has been issued showing that one-half 
of all the pupils who enter our American Sunday-schools leave 
them without being added to the Church of our Lord. In ex- 
planation it is pointed out that just when the pupil has at- 
tained to an age when we think he should become a Christian 
by open confession and primary obedience, he leaves the 
school on the grounds that he has grown "too big." A few 
years more of attendance would see most of them gathered 
into the fold. If "the way to hold the boys in is to build 
around them a wall of fathers," what an opportunity to ulti- 

—126— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

mately save these millions of boys and girls who are slipping 
away from us is offered in the promotion of the Organized 
Adult Bible Class! 

WORLD-WIDE IN SCOPE. 

And, what shall I say more? In city, town, village and 
country church, among rich and poor, learned and illiterate, 
saint and sinner, the homeborn and the stranger; in sickness 
a:id in health, prosperity and adversity; in the happy home 
and squalid slums, the busy mart, the crowded street, the 
noisy shops, the rushing railway trains, or on the broad prairies, 
at the fashionable resort, at picnic or party, on athletic fields; 
in the church of God or the house of shame; by hospital bed 
or prison bars, there are opened up opportunities for the or- 
ganized efforts of the minister, superintendent, church and class 
officers, teacher and committeemen and class, which are as 
unlimited as the needs of the human heart, and shall continue 
as long as men shall sin and suffer, and the saints of the Lord 
to serve him. 

" Behold, I have set before you an open door!" 



—127— 



SSSSSSSXXSSSSSSSSS^^ 



VEIL— THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITIES. 



The Individual. 

The Teacher. 

The Superintendent. 

Church Officers. 

The Minister. 

The Class. 

Colleges. 

Publishers. 

Facing the Future. 



(9) —129— 



VIII.— THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITIES 



The extent of one's opportunity is the measure of his re- 
sponsibility. This being true, the fact of the wonderful op- 
portunities for extending the Master's kingdom opened by 
the Organized Adult Bible Class movement makes the re- 
sponsibilities of his servants tremendous. 

THE INDIVIDUAL. 

It is the business of each individual to be the best in- 
dividual it is possible for him to be. It has been said that it 
is a sin to be less than the best. In the Organized Class the 
individual finds not only the opportunity for Bible study, but 
also for friendly discussion which he can find no place else. 
In the class activities he finds an opportunity for the expres- 
sion and exercise of his high motives and best energies, and 
for the fullest development of his Christian character. For 
the average individual there is nothing which equals the Or- 
ganized Class in its opportunity for self-development in knowl- 
edge of the Bible, in the development of the social and spir- 
itual life. It clearly is the duty of the individual to thus 
make the best of himself. 

Since the days of Cain the ever-recurring question, "Am 
I my brother's keeper?" has been asked, and the responsibility 
of the man for his fellowman has been recognized. In the Or- 
ganized Class the opportunities to effectively help the " other 
fellow" are boundless. The discouraged, the tempted, the 
weak, the sick, the poor, the needy in every phase of life, the 
sinful, the soul living in the lowlands, who might be led into 

—131— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

the higher, better and sweeter life, are all around us. It is 
for us to give the glad hand, the encouraging smile, the help- 
ful advice, to turn a brother from the error of his way, and 
thus to save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 
And as the opportunities for such work are found, the respon- 
sibility is imposed. 

In the school lie ' opportunities for good, of which the 
average man little dreams. It is the one effective means of 
making the Bible an open book. And the blessings of the 
open book are numberless. It has been truly said that the 
Bible school is the chief agency in the hands of man for the 
promotion of law and order and the prevention of crime, for 
the promotion of the general welfare, for the writing of the 
laws of God upon the hearts of men; for making men rich,-- 
not only in the things of this world, but in the highest life 
of body, mind and spirit. It 'is properly recognized that the 
school is the chief evangelistic agency of the church; and that 
the promotion of Bible study is the surest method of edifying 
the church. With such opportunities before him for good, 
the achievement of good things for God and humanity, it is 
well for the individual to stop and ask, 

"What kind of a school 
Would this school be, 
. If all of its members 
Were just like me!" 

THE TEACHER. 

It is the business of the Teacher to reach and teach the 
most people possible, an<l to achieve the best possible results. 
If he can reach and teach twenty, it is a sin for him to teach 
two or ten. By the adoption of the Organized Class method 

—132— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

he can transform his "field" into a "force," and double, if 
not multiply many times, its size and activities and growth in 
knowledge and interest and in Christian character and service. 
"And because he can, he is held accountable if he does not, 

THE SUPERINTENDENT. 

The Superintendent is responsible for the development of 
the school as a whole. But few schools have been able to 
reach the Adults. The methods have been ineffective. It is 
the Superintendent's business to find the. effective methods. 
There is furnished, all ready for the using, "the more excellent 
way" in the Organized Class. It is his to see that it is 
adopted and used in every Adult Class in his school — to see 
that each Teacher in this department is made acquainted with 
the plans and benefits of the organization, and that he puts 
them into operation in his class. It is his to see to it that 
each Organized Class comes up to the full International Stand- 
ard; for the best results obtainable in his schoolare the meas- 
ure of his responsibility. If he should, on the other hand, stand 
in the way, or be indifferent, or even fail to urge upon the 
teachers and classes the necessity of organization, or fail to 
so superintend the work that it falls short of the best possible 
for him and his school he will be called upon to answer for 
the loss resulting in numbers, Bible study, conversions and 
Christian service. 

CHURCH OFFICERS. 

Since the church officers are responsible for the church and 
for its growth and development, it is obvious, from what has 
been said, that they are vitally concerned with the Organized 
Adult Bible Class movement. It is theirs to "feed the sheep," 
and "tend the sheep," and to be "apt to teach,' ' and to be 

—133— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

shepherds, overseers, bishops, etc. As such it clearly is their 
duty to use to the full every method which has beeu blessed of 
God in the successful furtherance of this work. It therefore 
becomes theirs to see that these classes are organized, and 
that all necessary equipment is supplied. If a separate room 
becomes essential, it is the business of the church officials to 
provide it, just as it is the duty of the overseer of the farm 
to build a new shed for the protection of the flock, or of the 
manufacturer to supply new machinery in order to the develop- 
ment of the business. No set of officers has a right either 
to fail to build up the business by the introduction of the best 
methods, or to provide the equipment for the successful prose- 
cution of the plan, or to fail to labor and co-operate for the 
largest success. Some one has salved his conscience by saving 
that we are required only to be faithful, and not successful. 
But we can not be faithful if by our traditions we make of 
none effect the word of God, and if, by failure to adopt the 
best methods, proved to be the best in a thousand classes, we 
turn assured success into flat failure. As the officers of a 
church are the Lord's stewards and trustees, they are clearly 
responsible for the success or failure of . the Lord 's business 
here on earth. And one of the elements which is deciding the 
destiny of the church is the Organized Adult Bible Class. 

THE MINISTER. 

Whatever may have been in the minister's ordination pap- 
ers, the commission under which he is laboring is the one given 
by our Lord, when he says, ' ' Go . . . make disciples . . . baptiz- 
ing them . . . teaching them." This threefold work is his, and 
he can not be true to the Lord who sent him forth, unless he, 
to the extent of his ability, sees to it that the baptized dis- 
ciples are taught, that every disciple in name is a disciple in 

—134— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

fact. As the Organized Adult Bible Class has proved itself 
most effective in inducing the Lord's people to come to the 
Lord's house on the Lord's day to study the Lprd's word, it 
is his privilege and duty to use it in carrying out the third 
item of the commission. As pastor of the church he is pastor 
of the school; and in feeding and tending the Lord's sheep he 
can multiply his effectiveness if he calls into activity the un- 
dershepherds found in the committees of the Organized Classes. 
As leader of the forces, it is his business to bring into activity 
the latent forces found in his Adult members, «and through 
organized effort direct them in effective operations. 

As evangelist, he is obligated to use to the full ' ' the chief 
evangelistic agency of the church" — the agency which not 
only wins the converts, but cares for the converts after they 
are won. As one " filled with the Holy Ghost," he is obligated 
to work for the restoration of the church as it was when the 
apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit "into all truth," 
and when every church member continued in the apos- 
tles ' teaching, and when they ceased not to teach and preach. ' ' 
As a follower of the Great Teacher, he must not think that 
there is any higher calling than teaching, nor that the servant 
is greater than the master," It is his to save sinners and 
edify saints, and enlist in Christian service. In this threefold 
work the Organized Adult Bible Class is the highest product 
of sanctified common sense, and the nearest approach to the 
divine model yet produced, and demands his unqualified en- 
dorsement, his earnest support, and should be used by him to 
the fullest extent possible. 

THE CLASS. 

"Freely ye have received, freely give." If the organiza- 
tion has proved a blessing to the class, it has been to the end 

—135— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

that the class should become a blessing. It is therefore an 
obligation on the part of the Organized Classes to see to it 
that the good things which have come to it shall be extended 
to all the Adults of the church. In other words, there should 
not only be one or two Organized Classes in the school, but 
all the Adults should be brought into the school, and organized 
for active, aggressive work and service. Who should lead in 
this work if not the Organized Classes? In the neighboring 
church is an opportunity to organize a class similar to yours. 
That opportunity puts an obligation on this class to help them 
to organize, to help them to secure the same blessings. 

COLLEGES. 
In presenting the claims of the Bible school to the support 
of the ministerial students at a Bible college, the writer drew 
a diagram and explained it as follows: It is the business of 
the church to evangelize the whole world; hence the necessity 
of Foreign Missions. But Foreign Missions can only succeed 
when American Missions prosper; for, "as goes America — so 
goes the world. " But American Missions will succeed only 
as State Missions are developed to the fullest, and state work~ 
prospers as the local congregation becomes strong. How are 
we to best build up the local congregation? "The chief evan- 
gelistic agency of the church is the Bible School." Therefore, 
to build up the Bible School is to lay the foundation for the 
local congregation, the state work, American Missions and 
World-wide Missions. The diagram as placed on the blackboard 
was as below: 



| F. M. | 



Am. M. 



State M. 



Local Cong. 



Bible School. 
—136— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

To this diagram the Dean of the Bible college added another 
base, as follows: 



The Christian College. 



In this connection Tie assumed the responsibility of the 
College to furnish trained men to work in the Bible school, 
workmen who need not to* be ashamed. This being true, it is 
ours to say that upon the Bible Colleges rests the responsibility 
for teaching the preachers and Christian workers who are sent 
out — not only that Adults should be reached, but for the way 
in which the Organized Class should do its work. "As the 
leader is, so shall the people be. " What a responsibility rests, 
therefore, upon the Colleges, that they should send forth mein, 
fully informed and inspired to lead in the great work of reach- 
ing and teaching the Adults through the Organized Classes! 

The responsibility of the Bible college has been well set 
forth by President Mullins, of the Baptist Theological Semi- 
nary, of Louisville, Ky., in what he calls his "Bible School 
Creed, " which is as follows: 

"1. The supreme need in our country to-day is that the 
forces which make for character shall control the forces which 
make for intelligence. 

"2. One of the greatest forces which make for character 
is the Sunday-school. 

"3. The factor of the Sunday-school most potent in the 
development of character is the teacher. 

"4. The supreme lack x in the present. day Sunday-school is 
the lack of a sufficient number of thoroughly equipped teachers. 

—137— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

"5. The chief teacher of the teachers and trainer of the 

trainers of the Sunday-school is the pastor. 

"6. The chief trainer of the pastor is the theological semi- 
nary. ' ' 

PUBLISHERS. l 

The opportunity of the editors and publishers to foster and 
develop the Organized Class movement is greater, perhaps, 
than that of any other set of persons. The responsibility is 
correspondingly large. As in the case of the Christian En- 
deavor movement, it was by editorial and contributed articles, 
by symposiums, by special departments in our papers, and by 
books and pamphlets issued especially in its behalf that the 
work was brought before the churches and encouraged; so it 
must be by similar methods that the editors shall meet their 
obligations to the Organized Adult classes. In educating the 
people as to methods and results; in providing a literature 
which will be adequate for their work, in pushing the cam- 
paign to make unanimous the organization of Adult classes, 
they can do a mighty work, — one which will not only return 
to the publishing houses many fold the money expended in the 
campaign, but at the same time build up and bless the churches. 
Our Sunday-school Associations and Missionary Boards have a 
responsibility which can only be met by the appointment of 
special men to promote the movement, and giving place in 
their literature and on convention programs for the presenta- 
tion of the work. The work for which these organizations 
are set is accomplished by the Organized Class, and in pro- 
moting it they are promoting their • own work. 

—138— 



The Organized Adult Bible Class. 

FACING THE FUTURE. 

As we face the future we know that there will new ques- 
tions, new conditions, new opportunities and new responsibili- 
ties arise, and we are concerned to know if we will be ready 
to meet them. The only sure way to do so, is to embrace the 
opportunities of to-day. God only 4 - knows what that futuro 
holds. But every man of us knows that the Church will be 
in a splendid shape to take advantage of the enlarged oppor- 
tunity when it finds us with all the Church in the Bible school, 
the "field" transformed into a mighty "force" thoroughly 
organized and drilled in systematic and aggressive work; with 
the evangelistic spirit thoroughly aroused and effectively ex- 
pressing itself in intelligent and enthusiastic activities; the 
social and spiritual natures of the church members fully de- 
veloped, and the world convinced by the lives of his followers 
that they have been with Jesus. 

As we face that future to-day and see what is to be done 
around us in reaching and teaching the Adults, may we all 
be constrained to say with the apostle Paul: "I count not my- 
self to have attained, but this one thing I do: forgetting the 
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those which 
are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus. ' ' And when the time of our depar- 
ture is at hand, may we all be able to say with him: "I have 
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the 
faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- 
ness, which the righteous judge shall give me in that day." 



—139— 



*X*S*SXSae*S%X*XSX3^^ 



APPENDIX A. 



International Sunday-school Association Leaflets. 



—141— 



ADULT DEPARTMENT LEAFLET NO. 1 



The Adult Department 

ITS HISTORY; DEPARTMENT ORGAN. 
IZATION FOR ASSOCIATIONS; PLANS 
FOR. EXTENDING THE WORK 



o 



International 

Sunday School 

Association 



MR. W. N. HARTSHORN. 

Chairman hxeeutlve Csmmlttee, 

Boston, Mass. • 

MR. FRED A. WELLS. 

Treasurer, Hartford Building, 

Chicago, 111. 

MR. MARION LAWUANCE, 
General ^secretary. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
MR. W. C. PEARCE, 
Adult Department Superintendent, 
Hartfurd Building, Chicago, 111. 

Issued by Adult Department Committee, A. H. Mills. Chair- 
man, Illinois; Rev. Joseph Clark, D. D.., Ohio; C.M.Campbell, 
California; W. C Hall. Indiana; F. W. Adams, Manitoba; D. E, 
Wilson. Mississippi; Rev. A. P. George. P. D.. Missouri; M. A. 
Hudson, New York; Judge McKenzie Cleland, Illinois. 




THE ADULT DEPARTMENT 

I. Its History 

Like all truly great movements, it did not spring up in a single day, 
but has been the growth of many years. No man or company of men 
cap claim the credit of it. Tt is born of God and has been prospered b\ 
Him. Its purpose is to reach men and women, lead them to accept Christ, 
teach tlnem God's word, and enlist them in His service. 

It would be impossible to give the date when- the first adult cla^s was 
organized. According to various plans and in various places such classes 
have been organized for many years. The last few years have been 
marked by special activity in this work. Many classes have grown to 
large proportions. Several plans have been devised that have attracted 
widespread attention. Among these may be mentioned the Baraca. Phila- 
thea, Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip, the Yokefello vs. and others. 
These individual classes and special movements, working a^ong the lines 
of their own plans, demonstrated the value of adult Bible class work, 
and created the need for united action. Two states led the way — New 
York and Illinois. 

On Sunday morning, June 25, 1905, in Trinity Church, Toronto, a con- 
ference of the leaders of this work was held. A representative of the 
International Executive Committee presided. After prayerful consultation, 
the following resolution was unanimously adopted : 

"We recommend that the International Executive Committee appoint 
a special committee of five, to be known as the Adult Department Com- 
mittee. That at least the Chairman of this committee shall be a member 
of the International Executive Committee. That the work of said com- 
mittee shall be to devise plans for the improvement and extension of 
adult Bible class work in connection with the Sunday Schools of North 
America, and that they have power to^ act only in so far as they have 
received instructions from the International Executive Committee." 

The International Executive Committee took the matter under con- 
sideration at their regular meeting, 8 P..-M., June 26, 1905, and inaugurated 
the work by the appointment of an Adult Bible Class Committee. 

At the annual meeting of the International Executive Committee, held 
at Winona Lake, Indiana, August 8-13, 1906, Mr. A. H. Mills, as chair- 
man of the Adult Department Committee, made his first annual report. 
This report recommended the creation of an International Adult Depart- 
ment, and the appointment of an International Adult Department Superin- 
tendent. This department was created, and a committee was appointed 
to secure the superintendent. 

At a meeting of the Central Committee of the International Execu- 
tive Committee, held at the Union League Club, Chicago, January 17, 
1907, the^ Adult Department Superintendent was formally chosen. 



II. Department Organization for 
Associations 

The Adult Department should bear the same relation tc the general 
work of the State, Provincial, County and City Associations as the other 
deoartments. In accordance with that principle, the following plan of 
organization is suggested: 

By vote of the annual convention or of the Executive Committee, 
make adult Bible class work a department of your Association. 

2. Elect or appoint an Adult Department Superintendent. 

3. Appoint a special Adult Department Committee, to be associated 
with the Adult Department Superintendent in the direction of the plans 
and policy of this department of work. At least the chairman of this 
committee and the Superintendent of the Adult Department should be 
members of the general Executive Committee. Tn mayy of the Associa- 
tions the ^dult Department Superintendent is 'chairman of the Adult 
Department Committee. 



HI. Plans for Extending the Work 

Conventions Adult Bible class work and plans should be pre- 
sented at every Sunday School convention. A whole 
or part of one session should be devoted to ; this work at a time when the 
pastors, superintendents and delegates are present, so that the work may 
be spread into fields where it is not yet known or appreciated. 

2. Conferences Conferences of leaders of classes may profitably be 

called in town, city, county, state, or province. Where 
the field is large, these conferences can be most advantageously called in 
connection with the annual convention. When this is done the conferences 
should be held at a time when the main convention is not in session. A 
banquet or supper held between the afternoon ar.d evening sessions of a 
convention may be made a delightful social function and also furnish 
opportunity for such a conference. 

3. Visitation The State and Provincial officers should, so far as 

practicable, arrange to visit every county and present 
the adult work. Either at the time of the annual convention or at a 
meeting cf the County Executive Committee is the best time for such 
visitation. The county officers should visit the townships or districts, 
jmd provide for the visitation of schools. Where there are township or 
district organizations, the visitation of schools should be done by the 
township or district officers. During such visitation, seek to meet those 
interested in adult Bible class work, give them all the help and encourage- 



ment possible, and try to inaugurate plans for organizing all unorganized 
classes and for starting now ones. 

4. Leaflets Distribute the International Adult Department Leaflet 
anc l No. 2, which gives standard of ' class organization, 
- )states some advantages of organization, explains how 
Literature to or g an j ze a c i a ss, contains. a suggestive constitution, 

and many plans for class work. Where an Association paper is published, 
devote some space in each of its issues- to the discussion of this work. 
Prepare any leaflets of your" own which the needs of the local field may 
demand. 

. The little red pin, as shown upon the front page 61 

5. International t hi s leaflet, has been adopted by the International 
Emblem Executive Committee as tTie emblem representing the 

, r , adult Bible class and the adult Bible class movement. 

Its significance is "There is no purity of % life without sacrifice, and uo 
cleansing from sin without the shedding of blood." Heb. 9:22. This 
emblem may be worn by any class without conflicting with their 
own particular class emblem. It will prove to be a means of intro- 
duction to the members of various classes who meet socially or otherwise, 
and will serve to-advertise the class work.. It will also prove to be a con- 
tinent-wide bond of fellowship because it represents the Bible classes of 
all the different forms of organization. Where practicable, use this em- 
blem on stationery and printed matter. Have all representatives of adult 
classes wear it at conventions, and encourage its general use. 

tt Cor res- There is much, value in a personal letter. State and 

- £• Provincial officers may thus render great encourage- 

ponaenc ment and help to their county officers. County officers 

may similarly aid the work in townships and districts. Leaflets may be 

mailed, and also announcements of all conferences and conventions. 

All information from schools should be gathered, if 
7. Statistics possible, on one blank. Sunday Schools would be 

wearied if each department should ask for a separate 
report. The Adult Department Superintendent and Committee., in co- 
operation with the Executive Committee ;nd the General Secretary, should 
provide for the incorporation of suitable questions on the regular blank. 

$. List of ft ;s important to have lists of names and addresses 

Na.mes °.* teac ^ iers anc * presidents. of all adult classes. These 

^ lists should be constantly revised and carefully pre- 
served, and used in mailing leaflets and notices. All classes, whether 
organized or not, should be invited to all conferences on adult work. 

For farther information address you-: Association, whose office address is 
on the front page of this leaflet. 



ADULT DEPARTMENT LEAFLET NO. 2 



AN ORGANIZED 

ADULT BIBLE CLASS 

STANDARD OF ORGANIZATION; ADVANTAGES OF 
CLASS ORGANIZATION; HOW TO ORGANIZE; SUG- 
GESTIVE CONSTITUTION; INTERNATIONAL EM- 
BLEMs PLANS AND METHODS OF CLASS WORK. 



o 



International 

Sunday School 

Association 



J5R. W.H. HARTSHORN. 
Chairman Executive Csmmlttee, 
Boston, Mass. ' 

MR. FRED A. WELLS, 
Treasurer, Hartford Building, 
— Chicago, 111. 

MR/lftARION LAWRAffCE, 
General secretary, 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
MR. W.C.PEARCE, 
Adult Department Superintendent, 
Hartford Bulling, Chicago, 111. 

Issued by Adult Department Committee, A, H. Mills, Chair- 
man. Illinois; Rev. Joseph Clark, D. D.. Ohio; CM. Campbell* 
California W. C. Hall. Indiana- E, W* Adams, Manitoba; D. E. 
Wilson. Mississippi; Rev. A. P. George. D. D.. Missouri; M. A. 
Hudsou, New York; Judge McKezzie Clelacd, Illinois. 




I. Standard of Organization for Adult Bible Classes. 

The question is so often asked as to what is an organized Bible 
class that the Adult Department Committee has established the following 
standard, hoping thus to define such a class. In fixing this standard, the 
Committee endeavored to consider the needs and conditions in the average 
Sunday School and to voice the practice existing throughout the Inter- 
national field. The standard, represents the minimum of organization 
rather than the maximum. 

i. The class shall be definitely connected with some Sunday School. 

2. The class shall have the following officers :. Teacher, President, 
Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. It shall also have at least 
three standing committees, as follows: Membership, Devotional, and 
Social. It is not required that these committees be known by these 
particular names, but that the class have three committees which are 
responsible for these three kinds o v f work. 

3. The class shall consist of members who are sixteen years of age 
or over. 

Any Bible class meeting the above standard, upon application to 
their State or Provincial Superintendent and furnishing the names and 
addresses of class teacher and president, will receive an International 
Certificate of ^recognition. This is a beautiful lithographed certificate, 
signed by both the International and State or Provincial Superintendents. 
It is suitable for framing, and will be a constant reminder of the bond 
of fellowship existing between the adult Bible classes of the continent. One 
edition is prepared with space at the bottom for the signatures of charter 
members. 

II. Advantages of Class Organization. 

1 Increases When business men organizeand go after business 
Class men they are sure to win them. It is not an acci- 
M embers hip dent l ^ at practically all the large successful classes 

of the country are organized^ Experience warrants 
the statement that when a class is well organized and properly conducted, 
men and women ■ may be interested .in the Sunday School as easily as 
boys and girls. 

2 Perma- Organization increases the class spirit. The organ- 
nency * ze ^ class becomes "our class," not "the Teacher's 

class." In the unorganized class if the teacher is 
removed the class suffers greatly and sometimes disbands ; the organized 
class will get another teacher. Much, of course, depends, upon the 
teacher, but the permanency of the class cannot depend upon the personality 
of the teacher. Changes will come. 

3 Strength The organized class gives each one of its members 

j3l voice in the class management and activities. 
Each member is given something definite to do. The weakness of one is 
supplemented by the strength of another. It becomes a force at work, not 
merely a field for work. In union there is always strength. 

4 Service The organized class does ^things for its members, 

for the Sunday School and for the Church. . Its 
ideal is "every member at work.'/ See section on "Plans and Methods 



of Class 'Work." There is not a thing mentioned there that is not being 

done by many .organized classes. 

r e ' . The organized class of men and the organized class 

m B h of vvomen are the ma ^ ets that wil1 attract to the 

Big Boy and Sunday School service the boys and the girls. The 
Big Girl organized class is a dam across the Sunday School 

Problem stream that holds the boys and girls to the Sunday 

• School at a time when they are so easily lost from its membership. It 
not only helps to hold them, but is the best aid for conserving and di- 
recting "their boundless energy and activity. " In the adult class will also 
be discovered the choicest teachers ami workers for the Intermediate 
Department. 

& Soul Win- ^ e Bible class has given to many young men and 

young women their first, impulse to lead Christian 
ning Service lives an( j t0 do persona i wor k. In the first Baraca 
class, organized in 1890, over 200 have confessed Christ and united with 
the Church. One pastor writes that out of 146 members added in the past 
three years 77 came from two organized Bible classes. Another writes : 
"I have baptized into Church membership out of a class of young men 
probably 300." These testimonies could be duplicated many times. 

EH. How to Organize. 

1. Nearly every Sunday School has one or more adult classes, but 
in many cases they are unorganized. Personally interview the leaders 
of such a class or classes, and explain to them the value of organization. 
Also be ready to suggest plans and methods, and make these the nucleus 
for a beginning. 

2. Make a careful canvass of your church membership and com- 
munity, preparing a list of names of those who would be interested in 
Bible study and Christian service. 

3. In co-operation with the pastor, superintendent, and leaders^ of 
existing classes, call a meeting for prayer and conference, and present 
plans for starting a class for men and also a class for women. Some- 
Times these may be started wholly out of new material. In other cases 
it will be necessary to begin by taking a few men or a few women who 
are members of a mixed class. At this time be supplied with leaflets 
that will explain the plans and benefits of the organized class. These 
leaflets may be secured by writing to the Secretary of your State or 
Provincial Association. 

4. Persistently push the work until you find one or more men inter- 
ested in building up a class for men, and one or more women who are 
interested in building up a class for women. The reaching of large 
numbers of men and women cannot be easily done in mixed classes. Men 
for men. and women for women is the key to success. 

5. When three or more have been found willing to join any one 
class, form a temporary organization, constitute all of them as a member- 
ship committee, and begin a canvass for an additional number of charter 
members. Appoint a definite time for forming a permanent organization, 
and also name a definite number of charter members which you will 
strive to secure. Thoroughly advertise the date when such organization 



will be effected, and let it be known that only those who join by that 
time can become charter members. 

6. When the time for forming the permanent organization has ar- 
rived, make much of it. A social and banquet, if properly arranged, wiil 
help. Be sure to have a definite plan of organization to present at this 
time. Elect at least those officers and provide for the appointment of 
such committees as are required by the International standard. 

7. When the charter plan is pursued, the following card may profit- 
ably be used by those canvassing for charter members: 



APPLICATION 

FOR 

CHARTER MEMBERSHIP. 

I wish to become a member of an adult Bible class, to be 
organized as may be agreed upon by the members; each 
member to have a voice in the conduct of the class; the class 
to be a part of the Sunday School and its object to be Bible 
study, mutual helpfulness, and an adequate Christian service 
for every member. 

All applicants for charter membership will be duly notified 
as to time and place of organization. 

Name 

Address » 

Signed at request of 



8. Secure, in harmony with the rules of the Church, the best teacher 
possible for this class. The earnest practical teaching of the Word of 
God will always prove to be the magnet of power in an adult class. While 
there are a very few exceptions to the rule, H is usually better to secure 
a man to teach a men's class, and a woman to teach a women's class. 

9. It is not absolutely essential, but it is usually helpful for a class 
to adopt a name and some simple form of constitution and by-laws. A 
suggestive constitution is offered here, and it is urged that classes exercise 
great freedom in adapting before adopting. 

IV. Suggestive Constitution. 

ARTICLE I. 

Name. 1 

This class shall be ealled , . — 

of the Sunday School, of*.-- 

ARTICLE II. 
Object. 
The object of the class shall be Bible study, soul-winning, Christian 
culture, mutual helpfulness and the extension of Christ's Kingdom 
throughout the worM. 

ARTICLE III. 
Membership. 

* nv J woman I sixteen years of age or over may become a member by attending the 
} person) class and signifying a desire to join. 



■ ARTICLE IV. 
Officers. 

The 6fficers shall consist of a Teacher, President. Vice-President, Sec- 
retary, and Treasurer, who shall be elected annually by ballot, and shall 
"hold office until the next annual meeting- after their election, or until 
their successors are chosen. (Where the church provides for the election 
of the teacher the church authority should be recognized.) 

ARTICLE V. 

'Committees. 

The following standing committees shall be appointed: Membership. 
Devotional. Social, and such others as the work of the class shall demand. 
The officers of the class and the chairmen of all standing committees 
■hall compose an Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Meetings. 

The class shall meet every Sunday for Bible study at (hour) in con- 
nection with the Sunday School. Business meetings shall be held at 

(hour) on the first ....day of each "J quarter. \ Special meetings 

may he called at any time by the President. Teacher, or any five members 
of the class, by giving notice to the class the, Sunday previous to the 
proposed meeting. One-fourth of the enrolled membership shall consti- 
tute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

ARTICLE VI L 
Duties of Officers and Committees. 

Section 1. The teacher shall have charge of the lesson, and shall be 
ex officio member of all committees. Officers and committees must con- 
sult with the teacher on all subjects pertaining to the class work, and all 
committee appointments must have his approval. 

Sec. 2. The President shall preside on Sunday and at all meetings of 
the class, and shall be the general executive officer. The President shall 
be chairman of the Executive Committee, and ex officio member of all 
committees. « 

Sec. 3. The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, 
perform the duties belonging to the President's office, and shall' render 
such other assistance as may be required by the President. • \, \ 

Sec. 4. The Secretary shall have charge of the records of the class, 
keep the minutes of all business meetings, and shall make all announce- 
ments. He shall make a record of the attendance of the members each. 
Sunday, and report the same to the class and to the Secretary of the 
Sunday School, as required. 

Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the monies and shall 
pay them out as directed by the class, in harmony with the rules of the 
Sunday School. He shall report to the class as often, as require'd, and 
also to the Treasurer of the School, each Sunday. . 

Sec. 6. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision 
of all the class work. They shall devise ways and means of advancing 
the Interests of the class and of increasing its attendance. 

Sec. 7. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for securing 
new members, looking up absentees, and the visitation of the sick. In 
the performance of their work, they are responsible for devising methods 
and plans, and may call upon any member of the class for assistance. 

Sec. 8. The Devotional Committee shall be responsible for the spir- 
itual welfare and work of the class. 

Sec. 9. The Social Committee is responsible for greeting, welcoming, 
and introducing new members and visitors. They shall also provide such 
socials and entertainments as the class may approve. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Amendments. 

This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting 
of the class by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Any motion to 
amend must lie on the table at least one month before final action t? 
taken. 



BY-LAWS. 

It seems impracticable to suggest by-laws because of the varied con- 
ditions in the different parts of the field. As the class work progresses, 
it will be found necessary to enact rules concerning class management, 
benevolence, athletics, etc. 

V. The international Emblem. 

The little red emblem, as shown upon the front page of thisUeaflet, has 
been adopted by the Executive Committee of the International Sunday 
School Association as representing the adult Bible class and the adult 
Bible class movement. Its significance is "There is no purity of life with- 
out sacrifice, and no cleansing from sin without the shedding oi blood." 
Heb. 9:22. This emblem may be worn by any class without conflicting with 
their own particular class emblem. It will prove to be a means of intro- 
duction to the members of various classes who meet socially and otherwise, 
and will serve to advertise the adult Bible class work. Tt will also prove 
to be a continent-wide bond of. fellowship between the Bible classes repre- 
senting all the different forms of organization. 

VI. Plans and Methods of Class Work. 

1 Campaign Every organized class should grow. The Membership 

w Committee should organize and conduct a continuous 

campaign for new members. Every member of the 
Members class should be enlisted in this campaign. ' A list of 

prospective members should be prepared, and these persons carefully and 
systematically visited. Printed matter may be used effectively, but will 
never take the place of personal visitation. If necessary, send seven or 
"seventy times seven" men after one man. Invitations to these prospective 
members to attend some of the socials will also Jielp to enlarge the class. ' 

2 Welcome "*? e ^ at would have friends must show himself 

N friendly." Every human heart .appreciates a genuine 

to New cordial welcome. The Membership Committee should 

Wembers be alert to receive, welcome, and introduce new mem- 

bers. _ Let us remember that as children of our Heavenly Father we are 
"keeping house for Him." Every visitor of His should be made to feel 
the warmth and cheer that should characterize the Lord's house. When 
the class becomes large, it may be necessary to appoint a reception com- 
mittee. 

3. Absent Every member should be accounted for every Sunday. 

Members * n * ar & e c ^ asses tms " sometimes done by dividing 

the class into ranks of seven or ten with a captain 
over each rank. Require the captain to account for each member of his 
rank. Sometimes this work is done by a Visitation Committee. There 
are many reasons why members are absent, and the interest in each menv 
ber should be so intense and genuine that we will not be Satisfied until 
we know what has kept him away, and every effort has been made to 
secure his regular attendance. 

t Visiting Many a man x>r woman loses heart because in time 

the Sfck °* s ^ c ^ cness t* 1 ^ seem to De forgotten. , No one person 

t or committee should do all the visiting, but someone 

should be responsible for seeing that it is done. Many classes have a. 

Visitation Committee to whom this responsibility is assigned, 



5. Social Every man and every woman has a social nature and 

Uf e need. The adult class can, and is, meeting this need 

in a most hopeful and encouraging way. The Social 
Committee should provide for at least four socials each year. One of 
these should be the Annual Class Banquet. Socials may also be given for 
the benefit of others than members of the class, such as students in col- 
leges, and those who have not the advantages of. home life. In this way 
the membership of the class may be greatly increased. Debating societies 
and lecture courses are interesting, instructive and helpful. 
6 Athletics Scores of 'men and women have been interested in 

the adult class and Bible study through athletics. 
The following are suggested: Base ball, basket ball for men and women, 
indoor ball, tennis for men and women, indoor and outdoor track meets, 
hockey. Many instances are reported where men have been at first in- 
terested by means -of healthful sports and later brought to Christ and 
into the Church. 

1 Suitable "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home" is 

Homes* a sentiment that grips the heart of everyone'. To 

those who must go away from _ home, the adult class 
should be ready to render counsel and help in finding clean, comfortable 
homes". This is especially true of our great cities, to which are coming 
constantly a great- host of young people from the country and smaller 
towns. Many of them find the downward pa,th easy because of the jnflu- 
ences of the place at which they board. 

8 Employment ^ ut of work and Jeft alone is a load no young man 

or woman should be asked to carry. When an emer- 
gency like this comes to one, he should feel that he can go to the church 
for help.'- No department of the church is so admirably adapted for ren- 
dering this help as the organized adult Bible class. 

9 Supply The great cry is "Where can we get more teachers 
TeaoherS an0 - workers?" The adult Bible class can help here. 

The following suggestions are made: Let each' adult 
class take a definite number of teachers' journals, and distribute them 
each Sunday with the understanding that on the following Sunday those 
to whom the journals are given shall be ready to teach if needed. This 
not only helps the school; but keeps the class in touch with it as a whole. 

Froni the adult class we should also look for recruits for the training 
class. When the call comes for .members of any adult class to go into 
training for Sunday School work, they should hail it with joy. Indeed, 
the leaders should be alert to discover workers for every department of 
church work. 

The' International Reading Circle work is especially adapted for adult 
classes. For particulars concerning this work address your State or 
Provincial Sunday School Association. 

10 Evangelistic Soul-winning should ever be "the chief work of the 
W rk adult Bible class. Special meetings may be held for 

prayer and conference. Personal work should be 
encouraged, prayer meetings held, evangelistic meetings conducted, and 
every effort lovingly put forth for the salvation of men and women. 
Quartettes may be organized to aid in evangelistic services, and much 
help be rendered in the regularjchurch and prayer-meeting services. The 



"Secret Service" of the Baraca has been greatly blessed in the work 
of soul-winning and is heartily recommended. It is composed of those 
members of the class who are Christians and who pledge to pray and WQrk 
for the conversion Of the unconverted members of the class. The follow- 
ing is the pledge 



MY SECRET SERVICE. 

1. I pledge to pray for the unconverted members of our 
Bible class every day at noon, or as soon thereafter' as I 
remember this pledge. 

2. I pledge to make a list of those to Whom I will speak, 
and to work and pray for them. 

3. I will meet the secret service members once a month, 
and pray aloud with them* and do all in my power to help 

bring members to Christ within the next 

six months. 

Dated 



11 Helping ttre "The poor ye have with you alway." No kind of 
class work will bring more joy and warmth into the 
Needy class than the personal • experience of. helping the 

poor. Let the gifts to the poor not be sent by hired messengers, but be 
taken by loving hands. In this way both the bodily and. spiritual needs 
may be met. 

19 P hunt Advertise^ advertise, advertise in every proper way. 

Lz. PUDIlcity Tj se printers' ink wisely and freely: Urge the class 

to wear the class button. Make the reports to the church and to the 
school as interesting as possible, and occasionally print the same for 
distribution. Class stationery and calling cards are helpful. Keep the 
work and mission .of the class before the people of; the community. 
13. Co-opera* Every organized adult class should .be ir^er^sted in 
tioo improving and extending adult Bible class plans and 

methods. The County, State, Provincial, and International Sunday School 
Associations furnish excellent opportunities for expressing that interest. 
Adult class leaders and members should be well represented at the con- 
ventions of these Associations. They should not only attend when the 
aduk work is being presented, but remain, throughout the entire conven- 
tion. What a big brother is to the home, the adult Bible class should be 
to the Sunday School and to the Sunday School movement. 

These definite kinds of work are only suggestions—;-' 
L4. An Adequate not limitations. There is something that every ^mem- 
Work for Ev ber of the class could and should do for the exteh^ 
ery member s ' on °* Christ's Kingdom. This work should, be 
found for them and suggested to them. , " The ideal 
is reached when each member of the class is engaged in a work that he 
can do. Let every class work toward that ideal. The bank where you 
make your largest deposit is the one in which you are most interested.- 
There is no way to build up the class spirit more rapidly 

For further information address your Association, whose office* address 
is «n the front page of this leaflet. 



ADULT DEPARTMENT LEAFLET NO. 3 



Certificate of Recognition 

FOR ORGANIZED ADULT BIBLE CLASSES; 
STANDARD OF ORGANIZATION; PURPOSE 
AND CUT OF CERTIFICATE; APPLICA- 
TION BLANK. 



O 



International 

Sunday School 

Association 

MR. W. N. HARTSHORN, 
Chairman Executive Committee, 

Boston, Mass. «_■ 

MR. FRED A. WELLS, 

Treasurer, Hartford Building, 

Chicago, 111. 

MR. MARION LAWRANCE, 
General Secretary, 
Hartford Building, Chicago, I1L 
MR. V7. C. PEARCE, 
Adult Department Superintendent, 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 

Issued by Adult Department Committee, A. H. Mills. Chair* 
man, Illinois; Rev. Joseph Clark, D. D., Ohio; C.M.Campbell, 
California; W. C. Hall. Indiana; P. W. Adams, Manitoba; D. E. 
Wilson, Mississippi; Rev. A. P. George, D. D., Missouri; M. A. 
Hudson, New York; Judge McKenzie Cleiand, Illinois. 



MISSOURI 

Christian Bible School Association 

J. H. BRYAN, 
Superintendent Adult Department 

311 Century Building, Kansas City, Mo. 



I. Standard of Organization for 
Adult Bible Classes. 

1. The class shall be definitely connected with some Sunday School. 

2. The class shall have the following officers: Teacher, President, Vice- 
President, Secretary, and Treasurer. It sh^all also have at least three standing 
committees, as follows: Membership, Devotional, and Social. It is not re- 
quired that these committees be known by these particular names, but that the 
class have three committees which are responsible for these three kinds of 
\vork=-« 

3. The class shall consist of members who are sixteen years of age ox 
over. 

This standard represents the minimum of organization rattier than the 
maximum. In establishing it the Adult Department Committee endeavored to 
consider the needs and conditions in the average Sunday School, and to voice 
the practice existing throughout the International field. 

Any Bible class meeting this standard, upon application to their State or 
Provincial Association, and furnishing the names and addresses of class 
teacher and president, will receive an International Certificate of Recognition 
(See cut of same on opposite page and application on back page.) 



II. The Purpose of the Certificate, 

It is hoped that this certificate will aid the'work in the following ways: 

1. Stimulate the thorough organization of all Adult Bible classes. 

2. Assist in establishing a practical standard of organization. 

3. Increase the fellowship between the various classesjmd between these 
classes and the State and Provincial Associations. 

4. In securing list of names and addresses of class officers ana teachers, 
which are valuable in sending notices of conventions or other information 
helpful to the classes, 







T7an//ay^/i0C&$%M<>c&&b 









mZEZJ^m*MM^M€T^L*M*Z& 



^l^c^ / e^L^ 



Sunday Ssk^Ut*vfut£nm/ 






4tn*rarm*n*ewr Snre»nrrf*i, 



*e*iT Ocmrrmrrr simtmmrnatvT 



CHARTER MEMBERS 



This certificate can be secured with or without space for the signature* of 
chapter members. Size of certificate with space for signatures 15 by 15 inches; 
without signatures 15 by 10# inches. It is lithographed in three colors, gold, 
red and black and is suitable for framing It will be a constant reminder of 
the bond of fellowship existing between the" Adult Bible Classes of tho Con- 
tinent. 



APPLICA TION BLANK 

FO R. == 

International Certificate of Recognition, 

Name of Class . 

Name of Sunday Schoo] , _ 

Name of Denomination— 

Town or CAty m 

State or Province 

Has the class the following officers: President , Vice- President, Seer eta t y, and 
Treasurer? 

Has the class the following committees: Membership, Devotional, and Socio// 



What is the age of the youngest member in your class? 

Is your Class for men only, women only, or for both men and women? 



Does your Class use the International emblem ?_ 

Present membership of Class—, 

Name of Class Teacher 

Postoffice address^ ; , 



Name of Class President. 
Postoffice address 



Do you wish certificate with space for signatures of Charter members ? 

Class motto 

Application filted out by: Date of Organization _19 — 

Name - 

Postoffice address _ 

Kindly fill out this blank carefully, seud nams with twenty-five cents to your 
Association office, whose address you will find on front pa?e of this leaflet 



BULLETIN No. 3 

ISSUED MARCH 3 1st, ' X908 

TWELFTH INTERNATIONAL 

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION 

LOUISVILLE, JUNE 18-23, '08 

MR. MARION LAWRANCE. General Secretary 
806 Hartford Building, Chicago, Illinois 

Adult Department Plans 

o 




Warren Memorial Presbyterian Church 

Corner Fourth Avenue and Broadway 

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 

Where the 

.ADULT BIBLE CLASS CONFERENCE 

is to be held. 



NINE IMPORTANT ITEMS 



Adult Bible Class Conference. 

On Wednesday, June jy, igoS, (the day immediately 
preceding the opening of the Convention) an adult 
Bible class Conference will be held in \\\e JVarren 
Memorial Presbyterian Church. There will be three 
sessions: morning, afternoon and evening. The day 
sessions will be held in two sections, one for men and 
the other for women. The two sections will meet in 
the same church, the women's section in the Sunday 
School auditorium, and the men's section in the audi- 
torium of the Church, both uniting for the evening ser- 
vice. 



/lass Heeting — Thursday Forenoon, June J 8 

The adult Bible class Conference of Wednesday 
will be one of a series of Conferences to be held in the 
interest of the various departments of Sunday School 
work. . On Thursday morning the representatives of all 
departments will meet in a. Mass Meeting", at which 
time a report of the various Conferences will be given. 
The adult Bible class workers are expected to attend 
this meeting and demonstrate the value of their work to 
the Sunday School 



Adult Bible Class Session of the Convention 

The latter part of the session on Friday afternoon, 
June 19, will be devoted to the interests of adult Bible 
class work. At this time plans will be considered for 
the jprosecution of the work of the future. 



Informal Social and Prayer Service — Friday 
Evening, June 19 

From 5:30 to 6.30 the representatives of all adult 
Bible classes will assemble at the PVarren Memorial 
Presbyterian Church. During this hour the workers 
from the various parts of the field will have opportunity 
of meeting each other. The hour from 6:30 to 7:30 will 
be devoted to' a Song and Prayer Service. 



Bible Class Demonstration j~ Friday Evening-, 
June 19 

At 7 45 all the representatives of* men's classes as- 
sembled in the Warren Memorial Presbyterian Church 
will march in a body to the Convention Hall," where 
seats will be reserved for them. The entire everiing 
service will be devoted to addresses in the interest oi 
Bible study and Christian work. 



Open Air Heetings 

On Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Monday, June 
18th, 19th, 20th and 22d, a series of open air meetings 
will be held at nine different centers of Louisville. 
Each one of these stations will be in charge of an adult 
Bible class of the city.' Brief song services will be held 
and brief addresses will be delivered at each of these 
meetings. These services will be held each day just at 
the close of business hours. 



Noon Day fleetings 

On the same days that" the open air meetings are to 
be held, a series of noon meetings will be conducted in 
the. various shops and factories. A Business Men's 
Noon meeting will probably be arranged fo be held in 
some centrally located hall on each of these days. 

All Adult Bible Classes of N&rth America are in- 
vited to send representatives to these meetings. Only 
those regularly appointed by their State or Provincial 
Association can be ( accredite i d as delegates to the Con- 
vention, but the general Committee at Louisville have 
promised to aid in securing rooms and- board for all 
who come. It Is confidehtly expected that 2,000 special 
representatives of adult Bible classes will attend. Cin- 
cinnati has promised to send two hundred men, Evans- 
vrlle fifty, Indianapolis two hundred. 



Exhibit of Adult Bible Class Material 

Three banners will be awarded to the three classes 
making the best exhibits of adult Bible class material. 
These banners will be awarded by the Adult Depart- 
ments of Toronto and Chicago as follows: 

First. To the class making tfye best exhibit of act- 



verlising material, including cards of invitation, class 
buttons, printed announcements of special meetings, 
lecture courses, etc. 

Second. To the^class making the best exhibit of dcr- 
orative material. This will include banners, maps, 
'charts, mottoes, and any other material used in making 
the-class room more attractive. 

Third. To the class making the best exhibit of pro- 
gram material. This includes printed programs for 
socials, business meetings, field days or picnics, annual 
banquets, the regular Sunday sessions, etc. 



Instructions Regarding Exhibits 

Any class wishing to make exhibit will please ob- 
serve carefully the following rules: 

1. All material should be sent to Prof. W. J. 
McGlothlin, care of E. S. Boswell, Convention 
Hall, Louisville, Ky., not laier than June jo, igo8. 

2. A statement should accompany the exhibit giving 
the name of the class, its location, names and addresses 
of the class teacher and president, and the banner for 
which the class is competing. 

3. All material should be mounted on cardboard 24 
inches by 3(i inches, framed or unframed. This will 
enable the Committee to make the best possible display 
of all material. 



Adult Department Superintendent. 



*X******XXXXSXXX%*3^^ 



APPENDIX B. 



Samples of Printed Matter. 



—163— 




500 MEN WANTED 

Te COME tad SEE tt* Gttatel Bible CUu is th« West 

Brotherhood Bible Cass 

Central Presbyterian Church 



0. ROBERT F COYLfi 



Every Sunday 

Morning at 10 

O'clock Sharp for 

30 Minutes 




* 




© ft 


£,. 


THE 
E CLAS 

R MEINT 

12 to 1 


w 

5 


(ft 


< 




NN 


OUR AIM: 
BIBLE STUDY 
FRATERNIT 
SOCIABILITY 


H 


W 

O 

d 


* 





%be ipage Class 

IDuMeg St. Gburcb JSoston 



SUNDAY 
ESSIONS 
12 tol 

EVENING 
RESORT 

7 to 10 
Week Nights 



{Orchestra, Song 
Service, Special 
Music, Bible Study 
Brief Addresses 

I Magazines, Papers 
Dailies, New Bo^ks 
Pictures, Writing 
Table, Piano, 
Baseball Score 



f Baseball Club,Ten- 
ATHLETIC^ nis Club, Bowling 
^Team, Outings 

Smokeless Talks Health Talks 

LadieV Nights 
Debates Lectures 

Refreshments 
Socials Quartet Musicals 

Employment 
Visitation Good Citizenship 



of aH occupations, professions 
and creeds are welcome 



MEN 



HOA ! 



HOA!! 



iNVITATION 
COME AND SEE 



AN ORGANIZED CLASS OF REAL FELLOWS 
EVERY- 9.30 -SUNDAY 



Mutt** Wv*ttfv*n <&*fm*Af 

Baltimore and Philadelphia Sts.. Middletown, Ohio- 



MEN OVER TWENTY 

What are 
Your Plans 
For Sunday? 



The Ergonians 
Invite You. 



One Hour 
9'to.lO 



A Ten Minute Side Talk by Coke L Doster. 



!20*CfcNTUIv7 ] 
WEN'S BIBLE 

| Sunday 9^0 AM 

] Religious^— - 
Sbciai-* - 
-> Fr&f ernal 

;; HelpYKs Distressed 
il Operates Employment . - 
il&ureaili for HiUnemptoyed 

'|'t)niyOnee:A&trfc«ser'? 
«)"-*- ME.N -»" ■; 
tj ARE- WELCOME 



ki; v i^>i> i 



Young M*n at Work for 
Young'Mcn 



© 



All Standing by the Bible 
and the Bible School 



Young Men's Baraca Bible Class 

WALNUT ST. BAPTIST CHURCH 

Thrd *raf St Catherine Streets 

Sunday. 9:30. a. m. 

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED 



THE PHILATHEA CLASS 



OF 



CENTPRL SUNDAY SCHOOL 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 

BALTIMORE, MO. 



MEETS SUNDAY MORNING AT NINE-THIRTY 

You are "cordially invited to become a visitor* 
jor a memberof ike elass 



Ton are Cordially Invited to Join 

The A. E>. Dye Bible Class 

of the First Methodist Episcopal Church 

of Towanda, Pennsylvania. 

Which Mee,ts Every Sunday at 11-.45 O'clock a. m. 

Visitors S0W^nlt 1E ^ ev * °* A * Hot, Shtcn 

are Always MlfSkssi Pastor. 

Welcome O gmS^ m W. J. Bresee* Siipt, 

A. D. Dye, Teacher. over 



The next regular monthly meeting of the LOOK- 
OUT BIBLE CLASS, of tfpe United Evangelical Churc^ 
Fairfield, Ave., will be held in the annex of the churCr? 

Friday pvenmg, „ ..... t 1907. at ,7;30 

o clock. 

Your presence is earnestly requested 

HOWARD RUGEK 

President. 




Hoa. Justice Maciai 
Teacher 

"Onr Men's Class" 

Metropolitan Church 
Sunday;. 5 o'clock 



CLASS COLORS : 
RED AND WHITE 



Grand Rally 
and Re-Union 



© 



YOUNG MENS BIBLE CLASS" 

Sunday, December 2, 3 p.m., and 
Tuesday, December 4, 8 p.m. 

METROPOLITAN CHURCH. TORONTO 

Tins Sunday Afternoon we want to 
have at "Uur Men's Class" every member, 
past and present, who us in the city. In 
addition let each bring a gentleman friend 
with htm and all join heartily in this Rally 
and make it a Red Letter Day in the history 
of the Metropolitan bunday School. On 
Tuesday Evening we hope to haveone of 
(he happiest ot «Jld Boys Re-Unions. \'ou 
cannot afford to miss it- Write the Secre- 
tary if you eoL not come. 



A RcminlKcncc 



OLD BOYS' REUNION 
TUESDAY EVENING 

In (ho CWch Parlor*. 8 o'cJoca 

- — •-- MEN ONLY 1 - -"--— 

FIRST HALP HOUR 

"Wn.n We Were Boyt" Each 

Mt-her io be iddrcf'ud by hit 

Ch'mtUn Narr- ■ 

ofScnool Oay 
SECOND HALF HOUR 



by o 



-THE FEAST OF ThE FAIRIES" 

An Octette distinctly humorona 
and decidedly practical. 

"THE BRIDGE OF A THOUSAND 

AGES" A half hour addreit by 
Rey.W P BOSHART. Burnt of 
'Stantuad College. Quebec. 
FLASHLIGHT PHOTOGRAPH 



Mr W E DYER. Chalnran 

V. C. ELLIS. Secy.. 138 Simcoc St. 

Totonlo. Canada 



/'T\ 




Twenneip Ceaiarg niea's 



President 
W.J LHughe* 



Vice-President 
O. H. Haynej 



.Secretary 
O.H. Williams 



Treasurer 
H C Jones 



Teacher 
, ft.H.Crossfield 



Firs! cunsiian wag Scnooi 

OWENSBORO, KY. 

MOTTO. 
"ONLY ONCE A STRANQER" 

YOU ARE INVITELT TO VISIT 
THE CLASS NEXT SUNDAY 



C0MMTTTEE3 

Devotional 

New Member*/ 

Benevolent 

Advertising 

Up-to-Date 

Employment 

Absentees' 

Welcome 

"Siclt 

Entertainvneni 



PRESENTED BY. 



The Lookout Bible Class 

df the 

United Evangelical Church 
Fairfield Avenue 

cordially requests the pleasure 
of your presence, at. Us 

First Annual Banquet 

in 

Cupt>'s Hail 

Wednesday. June 5» 1907 

8:00 P. M. 



Don't Miss It! What? 

RALLY DAY SUNDAY of the Hemenway Men's 
Class of the Hemenway M. E. Bible School of Evans- 
ton. Illinois. September 23, 1906. 9.30 o'clock. 
Our Aim — To have every member present. 
Special Music . . Special Program . . Best Ever 

Really you cannot afford to miss this Rally 



MOST REMARKABLE BANQUET 

IN HUMAN HISTORY 

Discussed by the Ergonians next Sunday at nine, with a 
lets minute talk on the side by Coke L Doster. You'll miss j 
an interesting hour if you are not with us. 

ALL MEN OVER TWENTY. 

M. E. Church i Ue)u 0^^' Committee 

Basement W^AWp^f Invitation. 



WASHED THEIR FEET 
f.*»H&r. APRIL 6, A. D. 30 

You will find out who did such an act and whether it 
was an element of strength or weakness if you meet with 
the Ergonians next Sunday at nine. 

All men over twenty invited. Ai; E. Church, basement. 



MEN WANTED 



WHERE? 

At the U. B. Sunday-school, Second 

Street, below Swatara Street 

Steelton, Pa. 

WHAT FOR? 

To study the Bible with Class No. 23 
. Taught by H. J. Sanders 

WHEN? 

Next Sunday at 2 o'clock P. M. 
COME, WE NEED YOU 




a. 9. ® r 9>ilL &a* 
**S SOCIALS 

iba^axtw J\cM, JFiaAojuu (bfanina', Weo. 6thr f '07. 

at MlqhK' a'cKoci.' 




WAITER MOORS' BIBIE CLASS 

AUTOKN LEAP BANQUEt 

AKD 

B^LLY. 




Beginning At Six-Thirty in The" Class- 
Boon, Park Street Church* October Tenth, *OT 

"Let The Spirit of ^Christian Fellowship 

Blow its freshness £nto Yon, axvf Care6 Will Drop 

Llice Autnnm- Leaves » w 






MENU 

tscallotwl Oysters Long Branch Crackers 

Fi 1 W: of Bee f" M ush rooms 

Mashed Potatoes 

Roast Cbicken CwoPjs 

Cold Boiled Ham Beef Tongue 

Shrimp Salad 

Celery 
Ice Cream Cake Coffee 







Pickles 

Served t>T lonej firtiMQw* Catering Co. 



TOASTS AND MUSIC 



ToaHnjiVer, J. RITCHIE PATTERSO* 



MVSIC" . - . . . Epworth BfUe Q— Oefcertrm 

ADDRESS <B> WEtttBfig . -".PretMeot Raymond Elliott 

TOASt r '*mneoce of Bible CJ«i' v . . . _ . . ' Hugh C Bettaai. 

-VOCAL SOI/* . Ma-CI»'».l»r*«nf ^lUolf-iMt, Ont JlaoW 'rotr the FhW^ne* 

.TOAST-."Our CUss" : . - . » - . 1 . tSim Ada Deaereft 

TOAST^-Our Text Book-Tie Bible" '.' . . ~ . Dr. M. E. Cady 

HTSIC ' , » . . Orche.tr.. 

TOAST-'-Oor OM Members" . •*"■•", • ." • - - H«rry K Roncy 

TOAST -"Young People ami the Cfcarcft" . / . . . ' Dr. Charges O Brown 

TOAST— -Our rrim«xy DrpartroefU" . . i . , _ . Mr*. Wnv C. Cole» 

S0VRA.VO SOLO. - 1 MUs Mirth C. Carmen 

Accompanist. Mrs. Uaud Carthgart >-• 
TOAST-'ltow the B1Mea«aes Help thia Church" '; ^ -- . >. Dr. John D. Leek 
CLASS SONG ' • _ . . 

TOAST-'^The l-pJ-o-Da* rjiifc ciaa" 

SOrRAXO SOLO 

BENEDICTION 



Vim Ethel Magna* 



CLASS RALLYING SONG 

'Tune, "Rsiiy Round tbe FlsT 



I WeW^trlhtMJor tlie rieht. f rwnrU, CHORUS We're sturtyfag tie BfUe. 

• weSeri^hting yaino ihe wron^; . Oot Class then, fom-rr. forrvrr we prmy, to learn of God'a g»e«Hofe:_ 

i Slaghi* iM Jrsui. our Comrnamtar. . -. .' *jwn with the/ceil, ■* Singing of Jesas. oor great Teacher. 

'-_ AVe're libe Epworth Bible Oast, \ ■- Let right rule the way: We would follow in the footstep* 

n rtron»j * ^"hile «t r.a!ry to out class. £rien<ls» ■ of Hm who's gone above. . 
flatly oik* again/ 

.Wr. 



Srog+ng of Jew*, our Commarnua. 



Singing oOeatia. our great Teacher. 




Dear Sir and Brother: 

The time of year has arrived when most 
men like to go a*flshing, and some men like 
to go on Sunday. Wouldn't you like to go 
next Sunday morning? 

I enclose herewith a -fine hook. Bait it 
with brotherly love and catch a BIO FEL- 
LOW and bring him to Sunday-school next 
Sunday morning. 

PlcdSe bring this liook and present it to 
Mr. Stem, or he will think you have a worm 
on it down by the creek. 

Tour's for a Big Day, 

L. A. Williams, 

President. 



